ARY 


FOX    HILLS, 
CHERTSEY. 


VERSES 

4&1 

TRANSLATIONS 


VERSES 


AND 


TRANSLATIONS 


BY    C.S.C. 

Ck.rJei      St^ri    . 

i— 


/ 


EIGHTH  EDITION 


Ctatniin'trge 
DEIGHTON,    BELL,    AND   CO. 

LONDON:    GEOEGE   BELL  AND   SONS 
1884 


CAMBRIDGE: — PRINTED  MY  f.  PALMEB, 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

VISIONS               ...              ...              „  .......  1 

GEMINI  AND  VIRGO         ...               ...               ...  ...  6 

"THERE  STANDS  A  CITY"               ...               ...  ...  14 

STRIKING            ...               ...               ...               ...           "  ...  18 

VOICES  OF  THE  NIGHT    ...               ...               ...  ...  21 

LINES  SUGGESTED  BY  THE  14th  OP  FEBRUARY  ...  24 

A,  B,  C.                 ...               ...               ...               ...  ...  28 

TO  MRS.  GOODCHILD        ...              ...               ...  ...  28 

ODE—  'ON    A    DISTANT    PROSPECT'    OF    MAKING  A 

FORTUNE              ...                ...                ...  ...  33 

ISABEL                  ...               ...               ...               ...  ...  37 

LINES  SUGGESTED  BY  THE  HTH  OF  FEBRUARY  ...  40 

"HIC  VIR,  HIC  EST"         ...               ...               ...  ...  42 

BEER    ...               ...               ...               ...               ...  ...  47 

ODE  TO  TOBACCO               ...               ...               ...  ...  55 

DOVER  TO  MUNICH           ...               ...               ...  ...  58 

CHARADES           ...               ...               ...               ...  ...  69 

PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY             ...               ...  ...  92 

TRANSLATIONS  : 

LTCIDAS        ...                ...               ...               ...  ...  102 

IN  MEMORIAM               ...               ...               ...  ...  124 

LADRA  MATILDA'S  DIRGE             ...               ...  ...  128 

"LEAVES  HAVE  THKIR  TIME  To  FALL"      ...  ...  152 

*«LBT  Us  TURN  HITHER-WARD  OUR  BARK"  136 


864 


vui  CONTENTS. 

Page 

CARMEN  S^CULARE         ...              ...  ...  ...  140 

TRANSLATIONS  FROM  HORACE : 

To  A  SHIP   ...               ...               ...  ...  ...  148 

To  VIRGIL   ...              ...              ...  ...  ...  150 

To  THE  FOUNTAIN  OF  BANDUSIA...  ...  ...  152 

SORACTE           ...                     ...                     ...  ...  ...  154 

To  LETTCONOE               ...               ...  ...  ...  156 

JUNO'S  SPEECH             ...               ...  ...  ...  157 

To  A  FAUN  ...               ...               ...  ...  ...  162 

To  LYCE       ...               ...              ...  ...  ...  164 

To  HIS  SLAVK              ...              ...  ...  ...  166 

TRANSLATIONS : 

FROM  VIRGIL                ...              ...  ...  ...  167 

FROM  THEOCRITUS        ...               ...  ...  ...  169 

FROM  SOPHOCLES          ...              ...  ...  ...  171 

FROM  LUCRETIUS          ...              ...  ...  ...  174 

FROM  HOMER                ...               ...  ...  ...  183 

"COME  LIVE  WITH  ME"             ...  ...  ...  198 

"POOR  TREE"              ...               ...  ...  ...  202 

TRANSLATIONS  FROM  HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN : 

XLIV. — CHRISTMAS         ...              ...  ...  ...  204 

cxxx.— PENTECOST       ...              ...  ...  ...  206 

cxxxix.         ...               ...               ...  ...  ...  208 

CXCTII.         ...               ...              ...  ...  ...  210 

ccxx.            ...               ...               ...  ...  ...  212 

CCXLII. — DEDICATION  OP  A  CHURCH  .M  M.  213 


VISIONS. 

"She  was  a  phantom,"  &c. 

TN  lone   Glenartney's   thickets  lies   couched    the 

lordly  stag, 
The   dreaming   terrier's  tail   forgets  its  customary 

wag; 
And  plodding  ploughmen's  weary  steps  insensibly 

grow  quicker, 
As  broadening   casements  light    them   on   toward 

home,  or  home-brewed  liquor. 

It  is  in  brief  the  evening — that  pure  and  pleasant 

time, 
When  stars  break  into  splendour,  and  poets  into 

rhyme ; 


2  VISIONS. 

When  in  the  glass  of  Memory  the  forms  of  loved 

ones  shine — 
And  when,  of  course,  Miss  Goodchild's  is  prominent 

in  mine. 

Miss  Goodchild ! — Julia  Goodchild ! — how  graciously 

you  smiled 
Upon  my  childish  passion  once,  yourself  a  fair -haired 

child : 
When  I  was  (no  doubt)  profiting  by  Dr.  Crabb's 

instruction, 
And  sent  those  streaky  lollipops  home  for  your 

fairy  suction! 

"She  wore"  her  natural  "roses,  the  night  when 

first  we  met" — 
Her  golden  hair  was  gleaming  'neath  the  coercive 

net: 
"Her  brow  was  like  the  snawdrift,"  her  step  was 

like  Queen  Mab's, 


VISIONS.  3 

And  gone  was  instantly  the  heart  of  every  boy  at 
Crabb's. 

The  parlour-boarder  chasseed  tow'rds  her  on  graceful 

limb; 
The  onyx  deck'd  his  bosom — but  her  smiles  were 

not  for  him : 
With  me  she  danced — till  drowsily  her  eyes  "  began 

to  blink," 
And 7 brought  raisin  wine,  and  said,  "Drink,  pretty 

creature,  drink!" 

And  evermore,  when  winter  comes  in  his  garb  of 

snows, 
And  the  returning  schoolboy  is  told  how  fast  he 

grows ; 
Shall  I — with  that  soft  hand  in  mine — enact  ideal 

Lancers, 
And   dream  I   hear    demure   remarks,   and    make 

impassioned  answers: — 


4  riSIONS. 

I  know  that  never,  never  may  her  love  for  me 

return — 
At  night  I  muse  upon  the  fact  with  undisguised 

concern — 
But  ever  shall  I  bless  that  day:    I  don't  bless,  as 

a  rule, 
The    days  I   spent    at    "Dr.  Crabb's   Preparatory 

School." 

And  yet  we  too  may  meet   again — (Be   still,  my 

throbbing  heart!) 
Now  rolling  years  have  weaned  us  from  jam  and 

raspberry-tart. 
One  night  I  saw  a  vision — 'Twas  wjien  musk-roses 

bloom, 
I  stood — we  stood — upon  a  rug,  in   a  sumptuous 

dining-room : 

One  hand   clasped  hers — one   easily  reposed  upon 
my  hip— 


VISIONS.  5 

And  "BLESS  YE!"  burst  abruptly  from  Mr.  Good- 
child's  lip: 
I  raised  my  brimming  eye,  and  saw  in  hers  an 

answering  gleam—- 
My heart  beat  wildly — and  I  woke,  and  lo !  it  was 
a  dream. 


GEMINI  A1TD  YIRGO. 

OOME  vast  amount  of  years  ago, 
Ere  all  my  youth  had  vanish' d  from  me, 

A  boy  it  was  my  lot  to  know, 

Whom  his  familiar  friends  called  Tommy. 

I  love  to  gaze  upon  a  child; 

A  young  bud  bursting  into  blossom; 
Artless,  as  Eve  yet  unbeguiled, 

And  agile  as  a  young  opossum: 

And  such  was  he.     A  calm-brow'd  lad, 
Yet  mad,  at  moments,  as  a  hatter: 

"Why  hatters  as  a  race  are  mad 
I  never  knew,  nor  does  it  matter. 


GEMINI  AND  VIRGO.  1 

He  was  what  nurses  call  a  "limb"; 

One  of  those  small  misguided  creatures, 
Who,  tho'  their  intellects  are  dim, 

Are  one  too  many  for  their  teachers*. 

And,  if  you  asked  of  him  to  say 
"What  twice  10  was,  or  3  times  7, 

He'd  glance  (in  quite  a  placid  way) 

From  heaven  to  earth,  from  earth  to  heaven; 

And  smile,  and  look  politely  round, 

To  catch  a  casual  suggestion; 
But  make  no  effort  to  propound 

Any  solution  of  the  question. 

And  so  not  much  esteemed  was  he 
Of  the  authorities :  and  therefore 

He  fraternized  by  chance  with  me, 
Needing  a  somebody  to  care  for: 


GEMINI  AND  VIRGO. 

And  three  fair  summers  did  we  twain 
Live  (as  they  say)  and  love  together; 

And  bore  by  turns  the  wholesome  cane 
Till  our  young  skins  became  as  leather: 

And  carved  our  names  on  every  desk, 
And  tore  our  clothes,  and  inked  our  collars; 

A.nd  looked  unique  and  picturesque, 
But  not,  it  may  be,  model  scholars. 

We  did  much  as  we  chose  to  do; 

We'd  never  heard  of  Mrs.  Grundy; 
All  the  theology  we  knew 

Was  that  we  mightn't  play  on  Sunday; 

And  all  the  general  truths,  that  cakes 
Were  to  be  bought  at  four  a  penny, 

And  that  excruciating  aches 
Resulted  if  we  ate  too  many : 


GEMINI  AND  VIRGO.  £ 

And  seeing  ignorance  is  bliss, 

And  wisdom  consequently  folly, 
The  obvious  result  is  this — 

That  our  two  lives  were  very  jolly. 

At  last  the  separation  came. 

Eeal  love,  at  that  time,  was  the  fashion; 
And  by  a  horrid  chance,  the  same 

Young  thing  was,  to  us  both,  a  passion. 

Old  POSEE  snorted  like  a  horse: 

His  feet  were  large,  his  hands  were  pimply, 
His  manner,  when  excited,  coarse: — 

But  Miss  P.  was  an  angel  simply. 

She  was  a  blushing  gushing  thing; 

All — more  than  all — my  fancy  painted; 
Once — when  she  helped  me  to  a  wing 

Of  goose — I  thought  I  should  have  fainted. 


10  GEMINI  AND   VIRGO. 

The  people  said  that  she  was  blue: 

But  I  was  green,  and  loved  her  dearly. 

She  was  approaching  thirty-two; 
And  I  was  then  eleven,  nearly. 

I  did  not  love  as  others  do; 

(None  ever  did  that  I've  heard  tell  of;) 
My  passion  was  a  byword  through 

The  town  she  was,  of  course,  the  belle  of: 

Oh  sweet — as  to  the  toilworn  man 
The  far-off  sound  of  rippling  river; 

As  to  cadets  in  Hindostan 

The  fleeting  remnant  of  their  liver — 

To  me  was  ANNA;  dear  as  gold 

That  fills  the  miser's  sunless  coffers; 

As  to  the  spinster,  growing  old, 

The  thought — the  dream — that  she  had  offers. 


GEMINI  AND   VIRGO.  11 

I'd  sent  her  little  gifts  of  fruit; 

I'd  written  lines  to  her  as  Venus; 
I'd  sworn  unflinchingly  to  shoot 

The  man  who  dared  to  come  between  us: 

And  it  was  you,  my  Thomas,  you, 
The  friend  in  whom  my  soul  confided, 

Who  dared  to  gaze  on  her — to  do, 
I  may  say,  much  the  same  as  I  did. 

One  night,  I  saw  him  squeeze  her  hand; 

There  was  no  doubt  about  the  matter; 
I  said  he  must  resign,  or  stand 

My  vengeance — and  he  chose  the  latter. 

"We  met,  we  'planted'  blows  on  blows: 
"We  fought  as  long  as  we  were  able: 

My  rival  had  a  bottle-nose, 

And  both  my  speaking  eyes  were  sable, 


12  GEMINI  AND   VIHGO. 

When  the  school-bell  cut  short  our  strife. 

Miss  P.  gave  both  of  us  a  plaister; 
And  in  a  week  became  the  wife 

Of  Horace  Nibbs,  the  writing-master. 


I  loved  her  then — I'd  love  her  still, 
Only  one  must  not  love  Another's: 

But  thou  and  I,  my  Tommy,  will, 

"When  we  again  meet,  meet  as  brothers. 

It  may  be  that  in  age  one  seeks 

Peace  only:  that  the  blood  is  brisker 

In  boys'  veins,  than  in  theirs  whose  cheeks 
Are  partially  obscured  by  whisker; 

Or  that  the  growing  ages  steal 

The  memories  of  past  wrongs  from  us. 

But  this  is  certain — that  I  feel 

Most  friendly  unto  thee,  oh  Thomas! 


GEMINI  AND   VIRGO.  13 

And  whereso'er  we  meet  again, 

On  this  or  that  side  the  equator, 
If  I've  not  turned  teetotaller  then, 

And  have  wherewith  to  pay  the  waiter, 

To  thee  I'll  drain  the  modest  cup, 
Ignite  with  thee  the  mild  Havannah; 

And  we  will  waft,  while  liquoring  up, 
Forgiveness  to  the  heartless  ANNA. 


"There  stands  a  city." 

INGOLDSBT. 

TTEAK  by  year  do  Beauty's  daughters, 
In  the  sweetest  gloves  and  shawls, 

Troop  to  taste  the  Chattenham  waters, 
And  adorn  the  Chattenham  balls. 

'  Nulla  non  donanda  lauru,1 

Is  that  city:   you  could  not, 
Placing  England's  map  before  you, 

Light  on  a  more  favour' d  spot. 

If  no  clear  translucent  river 

"Winds  'neath  willow-shaded  paths, 

"Children  and  adults"  may  shiver 
All  day  in  "Chalybeate  baths": 


"THERE  STANDS  A   CITY."  15 

And  on  every  side  the  painter 

Looks  on  wooded  vale  and  plain 
And  on  fair  Mils,  faint  and  fainter 

Outlined  as  they  near  the  main. 

There  I  met  with  him,  my  chosen 
Eriend — the  'long'  but  not  'stern  swell'* 

Faultless  in  his  hats  and  hosen, 

Whom  the  Johnian  lawns  know  well: — 

Oh  my  comrade,  ever  valued! 

Still  I  see  your  festive  face; 
Hear  you  humming  of  "the  gal  you'd 

Left  behind"  in  massive  bass: 

See  you  sit  with  that  composure 

On  the  eeliest  of  hacks, 
That  the  novice  would  suppose  your 

Manly  limbs  encased  in  wax: 


*    "The  kites  know  well  the  long  stern  swell 
That  bids  the  Komans  close."— MACA.DLAY. 


16  "THERE  STANDS  A   CITY." 

Or  anon,  when  evening  lent  her 
Tranquil  light  to  hill  and  vale, 

Urge,  towards  the  table's  centre, 
"With  unerring  hand,  the  squall. 

Ah  delectablest  of  summers! 

How  my  heart — that  "muffled  drum" 
"Which  ignores  the  aid  of  drummers — 

Beats,  as  back  thy  memories  come! 

0  among  the  dancers  peerless, 
Fleet  of  foot,  and  soft  of  eye ! 

Need  I  say  to  you  that  cheerless 
Must  my  days  be  till  I  die? 

At  my  side  she  mashed  the  fragrant 
Strawberry;   lashes  soft  as  silk 

Drooped  o'er  saddened  eyes,  when  vagrant 
Gnats  sought  watery  graves  in  milk : 


"  THERE  STANDS  A  CITY."  17 

Then  we  danced,  we  walked  together; 

Talked — no  doubt  on  trivial  topics; 
Such  as  Blondin,  or  the  weather, 

"Which  "recalled  us  to  the  tropics." 

But— 0  in  the  deuxtemps  peerless, 

Fleet  of  foot,  and  soft  of  eye ! — 
Once  more  I  repeat,  that  cheerless 

Shall  my  days  he  till  I  die. 

And  the  lean  and  hungry  raven, 

As  he  picks  my  bones,  will  start 
To  observe  'M.  N.'  engraven 

Keatly  on  my  blighted  heart. 


STRIKING. 

TT  was  a  railway  passenger, 

And  he  lept  out  jauntilie. 
"Now  up  and  bear,  thou  stout  porter, 

My  two  chattels  to  me. 

"Bring  hither,  bring  hither  my  bag  so  red, 

And  portmanteau  so  brown: 
(They  lie  in  the  van,  for  a  trusty  man 

He  labelled  them  London  town:) 

"And  fetch  me  eke  a  cabman  bold, 
That  I  may  be  his  fare,  his  fare; 
And  he  shall  have  a  good  shilling, 
If  by  two  of  the  clock  he  do  me  bring 
To  the  Terminus,  Euston  Square." 


STRIKING.  19 

"Now, — so  to  thee  the  saints  alway, 

Good  gentlemen,  give  luck, — 
As  never  a  cab  may  I  find  this  day, 

For  the  cabman  wights  have  struck: 
And  now,  I  wis,  at  the  Ked  Post  Inn, 

Or  else  at  the  Dog  and  Duck, 
Or  at  Unicorn  Blue,  or  at  Green  Griffin, 
The  nut-brown  ale  and  the  fine  old  gin 

Bight  pleasantly  they  do  suck." 

"Now  rede  me  aright,  thou  stout  porter, 

% 
"What  were  it  best  that  I  should  do: 

For  woe  is  me,  an'  I  reach  not  there 
Or  ever  the  clock  strike  two." 

"I  have  a  son,  a  lytel  son; 

Fleet  is  his  foot  as  the  wild  roebuck's: 
Give  him  a  shilling,  and  eke  a  brown, 
And  he  shall  carry  thy  fardels  down 


20  STRIKING. 

To  Euston,  or  half  over  London  town, 
On  one  of  the  station  trucks." 

.  Then  forth  in  a  hurry  did  they  twain  fare, 
The  gent,  and  the  son  of  the  stout  porter, 
Who  fled  like  an  arrow,  nor  turned  a  hair, 

Through  all  the  mire  and  mack: 
"A  ticket,  a  ticket,  sir  clerk,  I  pray: 
For  by  two  of  the  clock  must  I  needs  away." 
/'That  may  hardly  be,"   the  clerk  did  say, 

"For  indeed — the  clocks  have  struck." 


VOICES  OF  THE  NIGHT. 

"  The  tender  Grace  of  a  day  that  is  dead.'* 

HI  HE  dew  is  on  the  roses, 
The  owl  hath  spread  her  wing; 

And  vocal  are  the  noses 
Of  peasant  and  of  Jdng : 

"Nature"  in  short  " reposes"; 
But  I  do  no  such  thing. 

Pent  in  my  lonesome  study 
Here  I  must  sit  and  muse; 

Sit  till  the  morn  grows  ruddy, 
Till,  rising  with  the  dews, 

"Jeameses"  remove  the  muddy 
Spots  from  their  masters'  shoes. 


22  VOICES  OF  TEE  NIGHT. 

Yet  are  sweet  faces  flinging 
Their  witchery  o'er  me  here: 

I  hear  sweet  voices  singing 
A  song  as  soft,  as  clear, 

As  (previously  to  stinging) 
A  gnat  sings  round  one's  ear. 

Does  Grace  draw  young  Apollo's 
In  blue  mustachios  still? 

Does  Emma  tell  the  swallows 
How  she  will  pipe  and  trill, 

When,  some  fine  day,  she  follows 
Those  birds  to  the  window-sill? 

And  oh !  has  Albert  faded 
From  Grace's  memory  yet? 

Albert,  whose  "brow  was  shaded 
By  locks  of  glossiest  jet," 

Whom  almost  any  lady'd 
Have  given  her  eyes  to  get? 


VOICES  OF  THE  NIQHT.  23 

Does  not  her  conscience  smite  her 

For  one  who  hourly  pines, 
Thinking  her  bright  eyes  brighter 

Than  any  star  that  shinee — 
I  mean  of  course  the  writer 

Of  these  pathetic  lines  ? 

Who  knows?    As  quoth  Sir  Walter, 
"Time  rolls  his  ceaseless  course: 

"The  Grace  of  yore"  may  alter— 
And  then,  I've  one  resource: 

I'll  invest  in  a  bran-new  halter, 
And  I'll  perish  without  remorse. 


LINES  SUGGESTED  BY  THE  FOURTEENTH 
OF  FEBRUARY. 

TflRE  the  morn  the  East  has  crimsoned, 

When  the  stars  are  twinkling  there, 
(As  they  did  in  Watts' s  Hymns,  and 

Made  him  wonder  what  they  were:) 
"When  the  forest-nymphs  are  beading 

Fern  and  flower  with  silvery  dew — 
My  infallible  proceeding 

Is  to  wake,  and  think  of  you. 

When  the  hunter's  ringing  bugle 
Sounds  farewell  to  field  and  copse, 

And  I  sit  before  my  frugal 
Meal  of  gravy-soup  and  chops : 

When  (as  Gray  remarks)  "the  moping 
Owl  doth  to  the  moon  complain," 


LINES  SUGGESTED  BY  THE  Uth  FEBRUARY.    25 

And  the  hour  suggests  eloping — 
Ply  my  thoughts  to  you  again. 

May  my  dreams  be  granted  never? 

Must  I  aye  endure  affliction 
Barely  realised,  if  ever, 

In  our  wildest  works  of  fiction  ? 
Madly  Borneo  loved  his  Juliet; 

Copperfield  began  to  pine 
When  he  hadn't  been  to  school  yet — 

But  their  loves  were  cold  to  mine. 

Give  me  hope,  the  least,  the  dimmest, 

Ere  I  drain  the  poisoned  cup: 
Tell  me  I  may  tell  the  chymist 

NOT  to  make  that  arsenic  up ! 
Else  the  heart  must  cease  to  throb  in 

This  my  breast;   and  when,  in  tones 
Hushed,  men  ask,  "Who  killed  Cock  Bobin?" 

They'U  be  told,  "Miss  Clara  J s." 


'A,  B,  C. 

A  is  an  Angel  of  blushing  eighteen: 

B  is  the  Ball  where  the  Angel  was  seen: 

C  is  her  Chaperon,  who  cheated  at  cards: 

D  is  the  Deuxtemps,  with  Frank  of  the  Guards 

E  is  her  Eye,  killing  slowly  but  surely: 

F  is  the  Fan,  whence  it  peeped  so  demurely: 

G  is  the  Glove  of  superlative  kid: 

H  is  the  Hand  which  it  spitefully  hid: 

I  is  the  Ice  which  the  fair  one  demanded: 

J  is  the  Juvenile,  that  dainty  who  handed : 

K  is  the  Kerchief,  a  rare  work  of  art : 

L  is  the  Lace  which  composed  the  chief  part : 

M  is  the  old  Maid  who  watch' d  the  chits  dance : 

N  is  the  Nose  she  turned  up  at  each  glance: 


A,  3,  0.  27 

0  is  the  Olga  (just  then  in  its  prime): 

P  is  the  Partner  who  wouldn't  keep  time: 

Q  's  a  Quadrille,  put  instead  of  the  Lancers; 

E,  the  Remonstrances  made  by  the  dancers: 

S  is  the  Supper,  where  all  went  in  pairs : 

T  is  the  Twaddle  they  talked  on  the  stairs: 

IF  is  the  Uncle  who  "  thought  we'  d  be  goin* :" 

V  is  the  Voice  which  his  niece  replied  'No'  in: 

"W  is  the  "Waiter,  who  sat  up  till  eight: 

X  is  his  Exit,  not  rigidly  straight: 

Y  is  a  Yawning  fit  caused  by  the  Ball: 

Z  stands  for  Zero,  or  nothing  at  all. 


TO  MRS.  GOODCHILD. 

rpHE  night- wind's  shriek  is  pitiless  and  holloa 

The  boding  bat  flits  by  on  sullen  wing, 
And  I  sit  desolate,  like  that  "one  swallow" 
"Who  found  (with  horror)  that  he'd  not  brought 

spring : 

Lonely  he  who  erst  with  venturous  thumb 
Drew  from  its  pie-y  lair  the  solitary  plum. 

And  to  my  gaze  the  phantoms  of  the  Past, 

The  cherished  fictions  of  my  boyhood,  rise: 
I  see  Red  Ridinghood  observe,  aghast, 

The  fixed  expression  of  her  grandam's  eyes; 
I  hear  the  fiendish  chattering  and  chuckling 
Which  those  misguided  fowls  raised  at  the  Ugly 
Duckling. 


TO  MRS.  GOODCHILD.  29 

The  House  that  Jack  built— and  the  Malt  that  lay 
Within  the  House— the  Bat  that  ate  the  Malt— 

The  Cat,  that  in  that  sanguinary  way 

Punished  the  poor  thing  for  its  venial  fault — 

The  Worrier-Dog — the  Cow  with  crumpled  horn — 
And  then — ah  yes!  and  then — the  Maiden  all  forlorn! 

0  Mrs.  Gurton — (may  I  call  thee  Gammer?) 
Thou  more  than  mother  to  my  infant  mind! 

1  loved  thee  better  than  I  loved  my  grammar— 
I  used  to  wonder  why  the  Mice  were  blind, 

And  who  was  gardener  to  Mistress  Mary, 
And   what — I    don't    know   still — was   meant    by 
"quite  contrary." 

"Tota  contraria,"  an  "  Arundo  Cami" 
Has  phrased  it — which  is  possibly  explicit, 

Ingenious  certainly — but  all  the  same  I 

Still  ask,  when  coming  on  the  word,  '  What  IK 
it?' 


30  TO  MRS.  GOODCHILD. 

There  were  more  things  in  Mrs.  Gurton's  eye, 
Mayhap,  than  are  dreamed  of  in  our  philosophy. 

No  doubt  the  Editor  of  'Notes  and  Queries' 
Or  '  Things  not  generally  known'  could  tell 

The  word's  real  force — my  only  lurking  fear  is 
That  the  great  Gammer  "didna  ken  hersel": 

(I  've  precedent,  yet  feel  I  owe  apology 
For  passing  in  this  way  to  Scottish  phraseology). 

Also,  dear  Madam,  I  must  ask  your  pardon 
For  making  this  unwarranted  digression, 

Starting  (I  think)  from  Mistress  Mary's  garden : — 
And  beg  to  send,  with  every  expression 

Of  personal  esteem,  a  Book  of  Khymes, 
For  Master  G.  to  read  at  miscellaneous  times. 

There  is  a  youth,  who  keeps  a  '  crumpled  Horn, 

(Living  next  me,  upon  the  selfsame  story,) 
And  ever,  'twixt  the  midnight  and  the  morn, 


TO  MRS.  GOODCHILD.  31 

He  solaces  his  soul  with  Annie  Laurie. 
The  tune  is  good;   the  habit  p'raps  romantic; 
But  tending,  if  pursued,  to  drive  one's  neighbours 
frantic. 

And  now, — at  this  unprecedented  hour, 

When  the  young  Dawn  is  "  trampling  out  the 

stars,"— 

I  hear  that  youth — with  more  than  usual  power 
And    pathos — struggling    with    the   first   few 

bars. 

And  I  do  think  the  amateur  cornopean 
Should  be  put  down  by  law — but  that's  perhaps 
Utopian. 

Who  knows  what  "things  unknown"  I  might 

have  "bodied 

Forth,"  if  not  checked  by  that  absurd  Too-too  ? 
But  don't  I  know  that   when  my  friend    has 
plodded 


32  TO  MRS.  GOODCHILD. 

Through  the  first  verse,  the  second  will  ensue  ? 
Considering  which,  dear  Madam,  I  will  merely 
Send  the  beforenamed  book — and  am  yours  most 
sincerely. 


ODE—  'ON  A  DISTANT  PROSPECT' 
OF  MAKING  A  FORTUNE. 


the  "rosy  morn  appearing" 

Floods  with  light  the  dazzled  heaven  ; 
And  the  schoolboy  groans  on  hearing 

That  eternal  clock  strike  seven:  — 
Now  the  waggoner  is  driving 

Tow'rds  the  fields  his  clattering  wain; 
Now  the  blue-hottle,  reviving, 

Buzzes  down  his  native  pane. 

But  to  me  the  morn  is  hateful: 

Wearily  I  stretch  my  legs, 
Dress,  and  settle  to  my  plateful 

Of  (perhaps  inferior)  eggs. 
Yesterday  Miss  Crump,  by  message, 

Mentioned  "rent,"  which  "p'raps  I'd  pay;" 

B 


34  ODE—  <  ON  A  DISTANT  PROSPECT9 

And  I  have  a  dismal  presage 
That  she'll  call,  herself,  to-day. 

Once,  I  breakfasted  off  rosewood, 

Smoked  through  silver-mounted  pipes — 
Then  how  my  patrician  nose  would 

Turn  up  at  the  thought  of  " swipes!" 
Ale,— occasionally  claret, — 

Graced  my  luncheon  then; — and  now 
I  drink  porter  in  a  garret, 

To  he  paid  for  heaven  knows  how. 

When  the  evening  shades  are  deepened, 

And  I  doff  my  hat  and  gloves, 
No  sweet  bird  is  there  to  "cheep  and 

Twitter  twenty  million  loves  j" 
]S"o  dark-ringleted  canaries 

Sing  to  me  of  "hungry  foam;" 
No  imaginary  "Marys" 

Call  fictitious  "cattle  home." 


OF  MAKING  A  FORTUNE.  35 

Araminta,  sweetest,  fairest! 

Solace  once  of  every  ill! 
How  I  wonder  if  thou  bearest 

Mivins  in  remembrance  still! 
If  that  Friday  night  is  banished 

From  a  once  retentive  mind, 
When  the  others  somehow  vanished, 

And  we  two  were  left  behind: — 

When  in  accents  low,  yet  thrilling, 

I  did  all  my  love  declare; 
Mentioned  that  I  'd  not  a  shilling — 

Hinted  that  we  need  not  care: 
And  complacently  you  listened 

To  my  somewhat  long  address, 
And  I  thought  the  tear  that  glistened 

In  the  downdropt  eye  said  Yes. 

Once,  a  happy  child,  I  carolled 
O'er  green  lawns  the  whole  day  through, 


36          ODE—1  ON  A  DISTANT  PROSPECT: 

Not  unpleasingly  apparelled 
In  a  lightish  suit  of  blue : — 

What  a  change  has  now  passed  o'er  me ! 
Now  with  what  dismay  I  see 

Every  rising  morn  before  me! 
Goodness  gracious  patience  me! 

And  I'll  prowl,  a  moodier  Lara, 
Thro'  the  world,  as  prowls  the  bat, 

And  habitually  wear  a 

Cypress  wreath  around  my  hat: 

And  when  Death  snuffs  out  the  taper 

»» 

Of  my  Life,  (as  soon  he  must), 
I  '11  send  up  to  every  paper, 
"  Died,  T.  Mivins ;   of  disgust." 


ISABEL. 

o'er  the  landscape  crowd  the  deepening 
shades, 
And  the  shut  lily  cradles  not  the  bee; 

The  red  deer  couches  in  the  forest  glades, 
And  faint  the  echoes  of  the  slumberous  sea : 
And  ere  I  rest,  one  prayer  I  '11  breathe  for  thee, 

The  sweet  Egeria  of  my  lonely  dreams: 
Lady,  forgive,  that  ever  upon  me 
Thoughts  of  thee  linger,  as  the  soft  starbeams 

Linger  on  Merlin's  rock,  or  dark  Sabrina's  streams. 

On  gray  Pilatus  once  we  loved  to  stray, 
And  watch  far  off  the  glimmering  roselight  break 
O'er  the  dim  mountain-peaks,  ere  yet  one  ray 
Pierced  the  deep  bosom  of  the  mist- clad  lake. 


38  ISABEL. 

Oh!   who  felt  not  new  life  within  him  wake, 
And  his  pulse  quicken,  and  his  spirit  burn — 

(Save  one  we  wot  of,  whom  the  cold  did  make 
Feel  "shooting  pains  in  every  joint  in  turn,") 
When  first  he  saw  the  sun  gild  thy  green  shores, 
Lucerne  ? 

And  years  have  past,  and  I  have  gazed  once  more 

On  blue  lakes  glistening  amid  mountains  bluej 
And  all  seemed  sadder,  lovelier  than  before — 

For  all  awakened  memories  of  you. 

Oh!   had  I  had  you  by  my  side,  in  lieu 
Of  that  red  matron,  whom  the  flies  would  worry, 

(Flies  in  those  parts  unfortunately  do,) 
Who  walked  so  slowly,  talked  in  such  a  hurry, 
And  with  such  wild  contempt  for  stops  and  Lindiey 
Murray! 

0  Isabel,  the  brightest,  heavenliest  theme 
That  ere  drew  dreamer  on  to  poesy, 


ISABEL.  39 

Since   "Peggy's  locks"  made   Burns  neglect   his 

team, 

And  Stella's  smile  lured  Johnson  from  his  tea — 
I  may  not  tell  thee  what  thou  art  to  me! 
But  ever  dwells  the  soft  voice  in  my  ear, 

Whispering  of  what  Time  is,  what  Man  might  be, 
Would  he  but  "do  the  duty  that  lies  near," 
And  cut  clubs,  cards,   champagne,  balls,  billiard- 
rooms,  and  beer. 


LINES  SUGGESTED  BY  THE  FOURTEENTH 
OF  FEBRUARY. 

TiARKNESS  succeeds  to  twilight: 
Through  lattice  and  through  skylight 
The  stars  no  doubt,  if  one  looked  out, 

Might  be  observed  to  shine: 
And  sitting  by  the  embers 
I  elevate  my  members 
On  a  stray  chair,  and  then  and  there 
Commence  a  Yalentine. 

Yea!  by  St.  Yalentinus, 
Emma  shall  not  be  minus 
"What  all  young  ladies,  -whatever  their  grade  is, 

Expect  to-day  no  doubt: 
Emma  the  fair,  the  stately — 
Whom  I  beheld  so  lately, 


LINES  SUGGESTED  SY  THE  Uth  FEBRUARY.    41 

Smiling  beneath  the  snow-white  wreath 
Which  told  that  she  was  "out." 

Wherefore  fly  to  her,  swallow, 
And  mention  that  I'd  " follow," 
And  "pipe  and  trill/  et  cetera,  till 

I  died,  had  I  but  wings: 
Say  the  North's  "true  and  tender," 
The  South  an  old  offender; 
And  hint  in  fact,  with  your  well-known  tact, 
All  kinds  of  pretty  things. 

Say  I  grow  hourly  thinner, 
Simply  abhor  my  dinner— 
Tho'  I  do  try  and  absorb  some  viand 

Each  day,  for  form's  sake  merely: 
And  ask  her,  when  all's  ended, 
And  I  am  found  extended, 
With  vest  blood-spotted  and  cut  carotid, 
To  think  on  Her's  sincerely. 


"HIC  VIE,  HIC  EST." 

QFTEN,  when  o'er  tree  and  turret, 

Eve  a  dying  radiance  flings, 
By  that  ancient  pile  I  linger 

Known  familiarly  as  "King's." 
And  the  ghosts  of  days  departed 

Eise,  and  in  my  burning  breast 
All  the  undergraduate  wakens, 

And  my  spirit  is  at  rest. 

What,  but  a  revolting  fiction, 

Seems  the  actual  result 
Of  the  Census's  enquiries 

Made  upon  the  15th  ult.? 
Still  my  soul  is  in  its  boyhood; 

Nor  of  year  or  changes  recks. 


«HIC  VIR,  SIC  EST."  43 

Though  my  scalp  is  almost  hairless, 
And  my  figure  grows  convex. 

Backward  moves  the  kindly  dial; 

And  I'm  numbered  once  again 
With  those  noblest  of  their  species 

Called  emphatically  'Men': 
Loaf,  as  I  have  loafed  aforetime, 

Through  the  streets,  with  tranquil  mind, 

i| 
And  a  long-backed  fancy-mongrel 

Trailing  casually  behind: 

Past  the  Senate-house  I  saunter, 

Whistling  with  an  easy  grace; 
Past  the  cabbage-stalks  that  carpet 

Still  the  beefy  market-place; 
Poising  evermore  the  eye-glass 

In  the  light  sarcastic  eye, 
Lest,  by  chance,  some  breezy  nursemaid 

Pass,  without  a  tribute,  by. 


44  "HIC  VIE,  HIC  EST." 

Once,  an  unassuming  Freshman, 

Thro'  these  wilds  I  wandered  on, 
Seeing  in  each  house  a  College, 

Under  every  cap  a  Don: 
Each  perambulating  infant 

Had  a  magic  in  its  squall, 
For  my  eager  eye  detected 

Senior  Wranglers  in  them  all. 

4 

By  degrees  my  education 

Grew,  and  I  became  as  others; 
Learned  to  blunt  my  moral  feelings 

By  the  aid  of  Bacon  Brothers; 
Bought  me  tiny  boots  of  Mortlock, 

And  colossal  prints  of  Roe; 
And  ignored  the  proposition 

That  both  time  and  money  go. 

Learned  to  work  the  wary  dogcart 
Artfully  thro'  King's  Parade; 


"HIC  VIE,  SIC  EST"  45 

Dress,  and  steer  a  boat,  and  sport  with 

Amaryllis  in  the  shade: 
Struck,  at  Brown's,  the  dashing  hazard; 

Or  (more  curious  sport  than  that) 
Dropped,  at  Callaby's,  the  terrier 

Down  upon  the  prisoned  rat. 

I  have  stood  serene  on  Fenner's 

Ground,  indifferent  to  blisters, 
While  the  Buttress  of  Ihe  period 

Bowled  me  his  peculiar  twisters: 
Sung  'We  won't  go  home  till  morning'; 

Striven  to  part  my  backhair  straight; 
Drunk  (not  lavishly)  of  Miller's 

Old  dry  wines  at  78/:— 

"When  within  my  veins  the  blood  ran, 
And  the  curls  were  on  my  brow, 

J  did,  oh  ye  undergraduates, 
Much  as  ye  are  doing  now. 


46  «  HIO  VIE,  EIC  EST." 

Wherefore  bless  ye,  0  beloved  ones: — 
Now  unto  mine  inn  must  I, 

Your  'poor  moralist/*  betake  me, 
In  my  'solitary  fly.' 


•  "Poor  moralist,  and  what  art  thou? 
A  solitary  fly." 


GRAT. 


BEEK. 

TN"  those  old  days  which  poets  say  were  golden— 
(Perhaps  they  laid  the  gilding  on  themselves: 

And,  if  they  did,  I'm  all  the  more  beholden 
To  those  brown  dwellers  in  my  dusty  shelves, 

Who  talk  to  me  "in  language  quaint  and  olden" 
Of  gods  and  demigods  and  fauns  and  elves, 

Pan  with  his  pipes,  and  Bacchus  with  his  leopards, 

And  staid  young  goddesses  who  flirt  with  shepherds :) 

i 

In  those  old  days,  the  Nymph  called  Etiquette 
(Appalling  thought  to  dwell  on)  was  not  born. 

They  had  their  May,  but  no  Mayfair  as  yet, 
No  fashions  varying  as  the  hues  of  mom. 


48  BEER. 

Just  as  they  pleased  they  dressed  and  drank  and  ate, 

Sang  hymns  to  Ceres  (their  John  Barleycorn) 
And  danced  unchaperoned,  and  laughed  unchecked, 
And  were  no  doubt  extremely  incorrect. 

Yet  do  I  think  their  theory  was  pleasant: 
And  oft,  I  own,  my  'wayward  fancy  roams' 

Back  to  those  times,  .so  different  from  the  present; 
When  no  one  smoked  cigars,  nor  gave  At-homes, 

Nor  smote  a  billiard-ball,  nor  winged  a  pheasant, 
Nor  '  did'  her  hair  by  means  of  long- tailed  combs, 

Nor  migrated  to  Brighton  once  a  year, 

Nor — most  astonishing  of  all — drank  Beer. 

No,  they  did  not  drink  Beer,  "  which  brings  me  to" 
(As  Gilpin  said)  "the  middle  of  my  song." 

Not  that  "the  middle"  is  precisely  true, 
Or  else  I  should  not  tax  your  patience  long: 

If  I  had  said  'beginning,'  it  might  do; 
But  I  have  a  dislike  to  quoting  wrong: 


SEER.  49 

I  was  unlucky — sinned  against,  not  sinning — 
When  Cowper  wrote  down  '  middle'  for  « beginning.' 

So  to  proceed.     That  abstinence  from  Malt 
Has  always  struck  me  as  extremely  curious. 

The  Greek  mind  must  have  had  some  vital  fault, 
That  they  should  stick  to  liquors  so  injurious — 

(Wine,  water,  tempered  p'raps  with  Attic  salt) — 
And  not  at  once  invent  that  mild,  luxurious, 

And  artful  beverage,  Beer.     How  the  digestion 

Got  on  without  it,  is  a  startling  question. 

Had  they  digestions?  and  an  actual  body 
Such  as  dyspepsia  might  make  attacks  on? 

Were  they  abstract  ideas — (like  Tom  Noddy 
And  Mr.  Briggs) — or  men,  like  Jones  and  Jackson  ? 

Then  nectar — was  that  beer,  or  whisky-toddy? 
Some  say  the*  Gaelic  mixture,  /  the  Saxon : 

I  think  a  strict  adherence  to  the  latter 

Might  make  some  Scots  less  pigheaded,  and  fatter. 

E 


50  BEER. 

Besides,  Bon  Gaultier  definitely  shews 
That  the  real  beverage  for  feasting  gods  on 

Is  a  soft  compound,  grateful  to  the  nose 

And  also  to  the  palate,  known  as  'Hodgson.' 

I  know  a  man — a  tailor's  son — who  rose 

To  be  a  peer:   and  this  I  would  lay  odds  on, 

(Though  in  his  Memoirs  it  may  not  appear,) 

That  that  man  owed  his  rise  to  copious  Beer. 


0  Beer!  0  Hodgson,  Guinness,  Allsop,  Bass! 

Kames  that  should  be  on  every  infant's  tongue ! 
Shall  days  and  months  and  years  and  centuries  pass, 

And  still  your  merits  be  unrecked,  unsung? 
Oh!   I  have  gazed  into  my  foaming  glass, 

And  wished  that  lyre  could  yet  again  be  strung 
"Which  once  rang  prophet-like  through  Greece,  and 

taught  her 
Misguided  sons  that  the  best  drink  was  water. 


SEER.  51 

How  would  he  now  recant  that  wild  opinion, 
And  sing — as  would  that  I  could  sing — of  you ! 

I  was  not  bom  (alas!)  the  " Muses'  minion," 
I'm  not  poetical,  not  even  blue : 

And  he,  we  know,  but  strives  with  waxen  pinion, 
Whoe'er  he  is  that  entertains  the  view 

Of  emulating  Pindar,  and  will  be 

Sponsor  at  last  to  some  now  nameless  sea. 


Oh !  when  the  green  slopes  of  Arcadia  burned 
"With  all  the  lustre  of  the  dying  day, 

And  on  Cithseron's  brow  the  reaper  turned, 
(Humming,  of  course,  in  his  delightful  way, 

How  Lycidas  was  dead,  and  how  concerned 
The  Nymphs  were  when  they  saw  his  lifeless 
clay; 

And  how  rock  told  to  rock  the  dreadful  story 

That  poor  young  Lycidas  was  gone  to  glory:) 


52  BEER. 

What  would  that  lone  and  labouring  soul  have  given, 
At  that  soft  moment  for  a  pewter  pot! 

How  had  the  mists  that  dimmed  his  eye  been  riven, 
And  Lycidas  and  sorrow  all  forgot! 

If  his  own  grandmother  had  died  unshriven, 
In  two  short  seconds  he'd  have  recked  it  not; 

Such  power  hath  Beer.     The  heart  which  Grief  hath 
canker' d 

Hath  one  unfailing  remedy — the  Tankard. 


Coffee  is  good,  and  so  no  doubt  is  cocoa; 

Tea  did  for  Johnson  and  the  Chinamen: 
When  'Dulce  est  desipere  in  loco' 

Was  written,  real  Falernian  winged  the  pen. 
When  a  rapt  audience  has  encored  'Era  Poco' 

Or  'Casta  Diva,'  I  have  heard   that  then 
The  Prima  Donna,  smiling  herself  out, 
Recruits  her  flagging  powers  with  bottled  stout. 


BEER.  53 

But  what  is  coffee,  but  a  noxious  berry, 
Born  to  keep  used-up  Londoners  awake? 

"What  is  Falernian,  what  is  Port  or  Sherry, 
But  vile  concoctions  to  make  dull  heads  ache? 

Nay  stout  itself— (though  good  with  oysters,  very) — 
Is  not  a  thing  your  reading  man  should  take. 

He  that  would  shine,  and  petrify  his  tutor, 

Should  drink  draught  Allsop  in  its  "  native  pewter." 


But  hark!   a  sound  is  stealing  on  my  ear — 
A  soft  and  silvery  sound — I  know  it  well. 

Its  tinkling  tells  me  that  a  time  is  near 
Precious  to  me — it  is  the  Dinner  Bell. 

0  blessed  Bell!     Thou  bringest  beef  and  beer, 
Thou  bringest  good  things  more  than  tongue  may 
tell: 

Seared  is,  of  course,  my  heart — but  unsubdued 

Is,  and  shall  be,  my  appetite  for  food. 


54  BEER. 

I  go.     Untaught  and  feeble  is  my  pen: 
But  on  one  statement  I  may  safely  venture: 

That  few  of  our  most  highly  gifted  men 
Have  more  appreciation  of  the  trencher. 

I  go.     One  pound  of  British  beef,  and  then 
What  Mr.  Swiveller  called  a  "  modest  quencher"; 

That  home-returning,  I  may  'soothly  say,* 

"  Fate  cannot  touch  me :   I  have  dined  to-day." 


ODE  TO  TOBACCO. 

rpHOTJ  who,  when  fears  attack, 
Bidst  them  avaunt,  and  Black 
Care,  at  the  horseman's  back 

Perching,  unseatest; 
Sweet  when  the  morn  is  gray; 

* 

Sweet,  when  they've  cleared  away 
Lunch;   and  at  close  of  day 
Possibly  sweetest: 

I  have  a  liking  old 
For  thee,  though  manifold 
Stories,  I  know,  are  told, 
Not  to  thy  credit; 


56  ODE  TO  TOBACCO. 

How  one  (or  two  at  most) 
Drops  make  a  cat  a  ghost — 
Useless,  except  to  roast — 
Doctors  have  said  it : 

How  they  who  use  fusees 
All  grow  by  slow  degrees 
Brainless  as  chimpanzees, 

Meagre  as  lizards; 
Go  mad,  and  beat  their  wives; 
Plunge  (after  shocking  lives) 
Kazors  and  carving  knives 

Into  their  gizzards. 

Confound  such  knavish  tricks! 
Yet  know  I  five  or  six 
Smokers  who  freely  mix 

Still  with  their  neighbours; 
Jones — (who,  I'm  glad  to  say, 


ODE  TO  TOBACCO.  57 

Asked  leave  of  Mrs.  J. — ) 
Daily  absorbs  a  clay 
After  his  labours. 

Cats  may  have  had  their  goose 
Cooked  by  tobacco-juice; 
Still  why  deny  its  use 

Thoughtfully  taken  ? 
We're  not  as  tabbies  are: 
Smith,  take  a  fresh  cigar! 
Jones,  the  tobacco-jar! 

Here's  to  thee,  Bacon! 


DOVER  TO  MUNICH. 

TjiAREWELL,  farewell!    Before  our  prow 
Leaps  in  white  foam  the  noisy  channel; 

A  tourist's  cap  is  on  my  brow, 
My  legs  are  cased  in  tourist's  flannel: 

Around  me  gasp  the  invalids — 
The  quantity  to-night  is  fearful— 

I  take  a  brace  or  so  of  weeds, 

And  feel  (as  yet)  extremely  cheerful. 

The  night  wears  on: — my  thirst  I  quench 
With  one  imperial  pint  of  porter; 

Then  drop  upon  a  casual  bench — 

(The  bench  is  short,  but  I  am  shorter) — 


LOVER  TO  MUNICH.  59 

Place  'neath  my  head  the  havre-sac 
"Which  I  have  stowed  my  little  all  in, 

And  sleep,  though  moist  about  the  back, 
Serenely  in  an  old  tarpaulin. 

Bed  at  Ostend  at  5  A.M. 

Breakfast  at  6,  and  train  6 '30, 
Tickets  to  Kb'nigswinter  (mem. 

The  seats  unutterably  dirty). 

And  onward  thro'  those  dreary  flats 
"We  move,  with  scanty  space  to  sit  on, 

Flanked  by  stout  girls  with  steeple  hats, 
And  waists  that  paralyse  a  Briton; — 

By  many  a  tidy  little  town, 

Where  tidy  little  Fraus  sit  knitting; 

(The  men's  pursuits  are,  lying  down, 
Smoking  perennial  pipes,  and  spitting;) 


60  LOVER  TO  MUNICH.     . 

And  doze,  and  execrate  the  heat, 
And  wonder  how  far  off  Cologne  is, 

And  if  we  shall  get  aught  to  eat, 
Till  we  get  there,  save  raw  polonies: 

Until  at  last  the  "gray  old  pile" 

Is  seen,  is  past,  and  three  hours  later 

"We're  ordering  steaks,  and  talking  vile 
Mock- German  to  an  Austrian^waiter. 

Kb'nigswinter,  hateful  Konigswinter ! 

Burying-place  of  all  I  loved  so  well! 
Never  did  the  most  extensive  printer 

Print  a  tale  so  dark  as  thou  could' st  tell! 

In  the  sapphire  "West  the  eve  yet  lingered, 
Bathed  in  kindly  light  those  hill-tops  cold; 

Fringed  each  cloud,  and,  stooping  rosy-fingered, 
Changed  Rhine's  waters  into  molten  gold; — 


LOVER  TO  MUNICH.  61 

While  still  nearer  did  his  light  waves  splinter 
Into  silvery  shafts  the  streaming  light; 

And  I  said  I  loved  thee,  Konigswinter, 
For  the  glory  that  was  thine  that  night. 

And  we  gazed,  till  slowly  disappearing, 
Like  a  day-dream,  passed  the  pageant  by, 

And  I  saw  but  those  lone  hills,  uprearing 
Dull  dark  shapes  against  a  hueless  sky. 

Then  I  turned,  and  on  those  bright  hopes  pondered 
"Whereof  yon  gay  fancies  were  the  type ; 

And  my  hand  mechanically  wandered 
Towards  my  left-hand  pocket  for  a  pipe. 

Ah!    why  starts  each  eyeball  from  its  socket, 
As,  in  Hamlet,  start  the  guilty  Queen's? 

There,  deep-hid  in  its  accustomed  pocket, 
Lay  my  sole  pipe,  smashed  to  smithereens! 


62  DOVER  TO  MUNICH. 

On,  on  the  vessel  steals; 
Round  go  the  paddle-wheels, 
And  now  the  tourist  feels 

As  he  should; 

For  king-like  rolls  the  Ehine, 
And  the  scenery's  divine, 
And  the  victuals  and  the  wine 

Bather  good. 


From  every  crag  we  pass '11 
Rise  up  some  hoar  old  castle; 
The  hanging  fir-groves  tassel 

Every  slope; 

And  the  vine  her  lithe  arms  stretches 
Over  peasants  singing  catches — 
And  you'll  make  no  end  of  sketches, 

I  should  hope. 


DOVER  TO  MUNICH.  63 

"We've  a  nun  here  (called  Therese), 
Two  couriers  out  of  place, 
One  Yankee  with  a  face 

Like  a  ferret's: 

And  three  youths  in  scarlet  caps 
Drinking  chocolate  and  schnapps — 
A  diet  which  perhaps 

Has  its  merits. 


And  day  again  declines: 
In  shadow  sleep  the  vines, 
And  the  last  ray  thro'  the  pines 

Feebly  glows, 

Then  sink  behind  yon  ridge; 
And  the  usual  evening  midge 
Is  settling  on  the  bridge 

Of  my  nose. 


64  DOVER  TO  MUNICH. 

And  keen's  the  air  and  cold, 
And  the  sheep  are  in  the  fold, 
And  Night  walks  sable-stoled 

Thro'  the  trees; 
And  on  the  silent  river 
The  floating  starbeams  quiver; — 
And  now,  the  saints  deliver 

TJs  from  fleas. 


Avenues  of  broad  white  houses, 
Basking  in  the  noontide  glare; — 

Streets,  which  foot  of  traveller  shrinks  from, 
As  on  hot  plates  shrinks  the  bear; — • 

Elsewhere  lawns,  and  vista'd  gardens, 
Statues  white,  and  cool  arcades, 

Where  at  eve  the  German  warrior 
Winks  upon  the  German  maids;— 


DOVER  TO  MUNICH.  65 

Such  is  Munich: — broad  and  stately, 

Rich  of  hue,  and  fair  of  form; 
But,  towards  the  end  of  August, 

Unequivocally  warm. 

There,  the  long  dim  galleries  threading, 

May  the  artist's  eye  behold 
Breathing  from  the  "deathless  canvass" 

Records  of  the  years  of  old: 

Pallas  there,  and  Jove,  and  Juno, 

"Take"  once  more  their  "walks  abroad," 

Under  Titian's  fiery  woodlands 
And  the  saffron  skies  of  Claude: 

There  the  Amazons  of  Rubens 

Lift  the  failing  arm  to  strike, 
And  the  pale  light  falls  in  masses 

On  the  horsemen  of  Vandyke; 


66  DOVER  TO  MUNICH. 

And  in  Berghem's  pools  reflected 
Hang  the  cattle's  graceful  shapes, 

And  Murillo's  soft  boy-faces 
Laugh  amid  the  Seville  grapes; 

And  all  purest,  loveliest  fancies 
That  in  poets'  souls  may  dwell 

Started  into  shape  and  substance 
At  the  touch  of  Raphael. 

Lo!   her  wan  arms  folded  meekly, 
And  the  glory  of  her  hair 

Falling  as  a  robe  around  her, 
Kneels  the  Magdalen  in  prayer; 

And  the  white-robed  Virgin -mother 
Smiles,  as  centuries  back  she  smiled, 

Half  in  gladness,  half  in  wonder, 
On  the  calm  face  of  her  Child:— 


DOVER  TO  MUNICH.  67 

And  that  mighty  Judgment-vision 

Tells  how  man  essayed  to  climb 
Up  the  ladder  of  the  ages, 

Past  the  frontier-walls  of  Time; 

Heard  the  trumpet-echoes  rolling 

Thro'  the  phantom -peopled  sky, 
And  the  still  voice   bid  this  mortal 

Put  on  immortality. 

*  *  *  « 

Thence  we  turned,  what  time  the  blackbird 

Pipes  to  vespers  from  his  perch, 
And  from  out  the  clattering  city 

Pass'd  into  the  silent  church; 

» 

Mark'd  the  shower  of  sunlight  breaking 
Thro'  the  crimson  panes  o'erhead, 

And  on  pictured  wall  and  window 
Read  the  histories  of  the  dead: 


68  LOVER   TO  MUNICH. 

Till  the  kneelers  round  us,  rising, 

Crossed  their  foreheads  and  were  gone; 

And  o'er  aisle  and  arch  and  cornice, 
Layer  on  layer,  the  night  came  on. 


CHARADES. 

• 

I. 

GHE  stood  at  Greenwich,  motionless  amid 
The  ever-shifting  crowd  of  passengers. 

I  mark'd  a  big  tear  quivering  on  the  lid 

Of  her  deep-lustrous  eye,  and  knew  that  hers 
Were  days  of  bitterness.     But,  "  Oh !  what  stirs" 

I  said  "such  storm  within  so  fair  a  breast?" 
Even  as  I  spoke,  two  apoplectic  curs 

Came  feebly  up:   with  one  wild  cry  she  prest 

Each  singly  to  her  heart,  and  faltered,  "Heaven 
be  blest!" 

Yet  once  again  I  saw  her,  from  the  deck 

Of  a  black  ship  that  steamed  towards  Blackwall. 


?0  CHARADES. 

She  walked  upon  my  first.     Her  stately  neck 
Bent  o'er  an  object  shrouded  in  her  shawl: 
I  could  not  see  the  tears — the  glad  tears — fall, 

Yet  knew  they  fell.     And  "Ah,"  I   said,   "not 

puppies, 
Seen  unexpectedly,  could  lift  the  pall 

From  hearts  who  know  what  tasting  misery's  cup  is 

As  Niobe's,  or  mine,  or  blighted  William  Guppy's." 

Spake  John  Grogblossom  the  coachman  to   Eliza 

Spinks  the  cook: 
"Mrs.  Spinks,"  says  he,  "I've  founder'd:    'Liza 

dear,   I'm  overtook. 

Druv  into  a  corner  reglar,  puzzled  as  a  babe  unborn ; 
Speak  the  word,  my  blessed  'Liza;  speak,  and  John 

the  coachman's  yourn." 

Then  Eliza  Spinks  made  answer,  blushing,  to  the 
coachman  John: 


CHARADES.  71 

"John,  I'm  born  and  bred  a  spinster:  I've  begun 

and  I'll  go  on. 
Endless  cares  and  endless  worrits,  well  I  knows  it, 

has  a  wife: 
Cooking  for  a  genteel  family,  John,  it 's  a  goluptious 

life! 

"I  gets  £20  per  annum — tea  and  things  o'  course 

not  reckoned, — 
There 's  a  cat  that  eats  the  butter,  takes  the  coals, 

and  breaks  my  second: 
There's  soci'ty — James  the  footman; — (not  that  I 

look  after  him; 
But  he's  aff'ble   in   his  manners,   with  amazing 

length  of  limb;) — 

"Never  durst  the  missis  enter  here  until  I've  said 

'Come  in': 
If  I  saw  the  master  peeping,  I'd  catch  up  the 

rolling-pin. 


72  CHARADES. 

Christmas-boxes,    that's  a  something;    perkisites, 

that's  something  too; 
And  I  think,  take  all  together,  John,  I  won't  be  on 

with  you." 

John  the  coachman  took  his  hat  up,  for  he  thought 

he'd  had  enough; 
Kubb'd  an  elongated  forehead  with  a   meditative 

cuff; 
Paused  before  the  stable  doorway ;  said,  when  there, 

in  accents  mild, 
"She's  a  fine  young  'oman,   cook  is;   but  that's 

where  it  is,  she's  spiled." 


I  have  read  in  some  not  marvellous  tale, 
(Or  if  I  have  not,  I  've  dreamed) 

Of  one  who  filled  up  the  convivial  cup 
Till  the  company  round  him  seemed 


CHARADES.  73 

To  be  vanished  and  gone,  tho*  the  lamps  upon 

Their  face  as  aforetime  gleamed: 
And  his  head  sunk  down,  and  a  Lethe  crept 
O'er  his  powerful  brain,  and  the  young  man  slept. 

Then  they  laid  him  with  care  in  his  moonlit  bed: 
But  first — having  thoughtfully  fetched  some  tar — 

Adorn'd  him  with  feathers,  aware  that  the  weather's 
Uncertainty  brings  on  at  nights  catarrh. 

They  staid  in  his  room  till  the  sun  was  high: 
But  still  did  the  feathered  one  give  no  sign 

Of  opening  a  peeper — he  might  be  a  sleeper 
Such  as  rests  on  the  Northern  or  Midland  line. 

At  last  he  woke,  and  with  profound 
Bewilderment  he  gazed  around; 
Dropped  one,  then  both  feet  to  the  ground, 
But  never  spake  a  word: 


CHARADES. 

Then  to  my  whole  he  made  his  way; 
Took  one  long  lingering  survey; 
And  softly,  as  he  stole  away, 
Eemarked,  "By  Jove,  a  bird!" 


II, 


|"F  you've  seen  a  short  man  swagger  tow'rds  the 
footlights  at  Shoreditch, 

Sing  out  "  Heave  aho!  my  hearties,"  and  perpetually 
hitch 

Up,  by  an  ingenious  movement,  trousers  innocent 
of  brace, 

Briskly  flourishing  a  cudgel  in  his  pleased  com- 
panion's face; 

If  he  preluded  with  hornpipes  each  successive  thing 
he  did, 

From  a  sun-browned  cheek  extracting  still  an  os- 
tentatious quid; 

And  expectorated  freely,  and  occasionally  cursed : — 


76  CHARADES. 

Then  have  you  beheld,  depicted  by  a  master's  hand, 
my  first. 

0  my  countryman !  if  ever  from  thy  arm  the  bolster 
«  sped, 

In  thy  school-days,  with  precision  at  a  young  com- 
panion's head; 

If  'twas  thine  to  lodge  the  marble  in  the  centre  of 
the  ring, 

Or  with  well-directed  pebble  make  the  sitting  hen 
take  wing: 

Then  do  thou — each  fair  May  morning,  when  the 

blue  lake  is  as  glass, 
And  the  gossamers  are  twinkling  star-like  in  the 

beaded  grass; 
When  the  mountain- bee  is  sipping  fragrance  from 

the  bluebell's  lip, 
And  the  bathing-woman  tells  you,  Now 's  your  time 

to  take  a  dip: 


CHARADES.  77 

When  along  the  misty  valleys  fieldward  winds  the 

lowing  herd, 
And  the  early  worm  is  being  dropped  on  by  the 

early  bird; 

i 

And   Aurora  hangs  her  jewels  from  the  bending 

rose's  cup, 
And  the  myriad  voice  of  Nature  calls  thee  to  my 

second  up : — 

Hie  thee  to  the  breezy  common,  where  the  melan- 
choly goose 

Stalks,  and  the  astonished  donkey  finds  that  he  is 
really  loose; 

There  amid  green  fern  and  furze-bush  shalt  thou 
soon  my  whole  behold, 

Rising  '  bull-eyed  and  majestic' — as  Olympus'  queen 
of  old: 

Kneel, — at  a  respectful  distance, — as  they  kneeled 
to  her,  and  try 


78  CHARADES. 

With  judicious  hand  to  put  a  ball  into  that  ball-less 

eye: 
Till  a  stiffness  seize   thy  elbows,  and  the  general 

public  wake — 
Then  return,  and,  clear  of  conscience,  walk  into  thy 

well-earned  steak. 


III. 

yet  "knowledge  for  the  million" 

Came  out  ''neatly  bound  in  boards"; 
When  like  Care  upon  a  pillion 

Matrons  rode  behind  their  lords: 
Rarely,  save  to  hear  the  Rector, 

Forth  did  younger  ladies  roam; 
Making  pies,  and  brewing  nectar 

From  the  gooseberry- trees  at  home. 

They'd  not  dreamed  of  Pau  or  Vevay; 

Ne'er  should  into  blossom  burst 
At  the  ball  or  at  the  leve"e; 

Never  come,  in  fact,  my  first : 
Nor  illumine  cards  by  dozens 

"With  some  labyrinthine  text, 
Nor  work  smoking-caps  for  cousins 

Who  were  pounding  at  my  next. 


SO  CHARADES. 

Now  have  skirts,  and  minds,  grown  ampler; 

Now  not  all  they  seek  to  do 
Is  create  upon  a  sampler 

Beasts  which  Buffon  never  knew: 
But  their  venturous  muslins  rustle 

O'er  the  cragstone  and  the  snow, 
Or  at  home  their  hiceps  muscle 

Grows  by  practising  the  bow. 

"Worthy  they  those  dames  who,  fable 

Says,  rode  "palfreys"  to  the  war 
With  some  giant  Thane,  whose  "  sable 

Destrier  caracoled"  before; 
Smiled,  as— springing  from  the  war-horse 

As  men  spring  in  modern  'cirques' — 
He  plunged,  ponderous  as  a  four-horse 

Coach,  among  the  vanished  Turks  I—- 
In the  good  times  when  the  jester 

Asked  the  monarch  how  he  was, 


CHAEADES.  81 

And  the  landlady  addrest  her 

Guests  as  'gossip'  or  as  'coz'; 
When  the  Templar  said,   "Gramercy," 

Or,   "'Twas  shrewdly  thrust,  i'  fegs," 
To  Sir  Halbert  or  Sir  Percy 

As  they  knocked  him  off  his  legs: 

I 
And,  by  way  of  mild  reminders 

That  he  needed  coin,  the  Knight 
Day  by  day  extracted  grinders 

From  the  howling  Israelite : 
And  my  whole  in  merry  Sherwood 

Sent,  with  preterhuman  luck, 
Missiles — not  of  steel  but  firwood — 

Thro'  the  two-mile-distant  buck. 


IV. 


J^VENIJSTG  threw  soberer  hue 
Over  the  blue  sky,  and  the  few 
Poplars  that  grew  just  in  the  view 
Of  the  hall  of  Sir  Hugo  de  Wynkle : 
"Answer  me  true,"  pleaded  Sir  Hugh, 
(Striving  some  hardhearted  maiden  to  woo,) 
"What  shall  I  do,  Lady,  for  you? 
Twill  be  done,  ere  your  eye  may  twinkle. 
Shall  I  borrow  the  wand  of  a  Moorish  enchanter, 
And  bid  a  decanter  contain  the  Levant,  or 
The  brass  from  the  face  of  a  Mormonite  ranter? 
Shall  I  go  for  the  mule  of  the  Spanish  Infantar — 
(That  r,  for  the  sake  of  the  line,  we  must  grant 
her,)- 


CHARADES.  83 

And  race  with  the  foul  fiend,  and  beat  in  a  canter, 
Like  that  first  of  equestrians  Tarn  o'  Shanter? 
I  talk  not  mere  banter — say  not  that  I  can't,  or 
By  this  my  first — (a  Virginia  planter 
Sold  it  me  to  kill  rats) — I  will  die  instanter." 
The  Lady  bended  her  ivory  neck,  and 
Whispered  mournfully,  "Go  for — my  second," 
She  said,  and  the  red  from  Sir  Hugh's  cheek 

fled, 
And  "Nay,"  did  he  say,  as  he  stalked  away 

The  fiercest  of  injured  men: 
"Twice  have  I  humbled  my  haughty  soul, 
And  on  bended  knee  have  I  pressed  my  whole — 
But  I  never  will  press  it  again!" 


pinnacled  St.  Mary's 

Lingers  the  setting  sun; 
Into  the  streets  the  blackguards 

Are  skulking  one  by  one: 
Butcher  and  Boots  and  Bargeman 

Lay  pipe  and  pewter  down; 
And  with  wild  shout  come  tumbling  out 

To  join  the  Town  and  Gown. 

And  now  the  undergraduates 

Come  forth  by  twos  and  threes, 
From  the  broad  tower  of  Trinity, 

From  the  green  gate  of  Caius: 
The  wily  bargeman  marks  them, 

And  swears  to  do  his  worst; 
To  turn  to  impotence  their  strength, 

And  their  beauty  to  my  first. 


CHARADES.  85 

But  before  Corpus  gateway 

My  second  first  arose, 
When  Barnacles  the  Freshman 

"Was  pinned  upon  the  nose: 
Pinned  on  the  nose  by  Boxer, 

Who  brought  a  hobnailed  herd 
From  Barnwell,  where  he  kept  a  van, 
Being  indeed  a  dogsmeat  man, 
Yendor  of  terriers,  blue  or  tan, 

And  dealer  in  my  third. 

'Twere  long  to  tell  how  Boxer 

Was  '  countered'  on  the  cheek, 
And  knocked  into  the  middle 

Of  the  ensuing  week : 
How  Barnacles  the  Freshman 

Was  asked  his  name  and  college; 
And  how  he  did  the  fatal  facts 

Reluctantly  acknowledge. 


86  CHARADES. 

He  called  upon  the  Proctor 

Next  day  at  half-past  ten; 
Men  whispered  that  the  Freshman  cut 

A  different  figure  then: — 
That  the  brass  forsook  his  forehead, 

The  iron  fled  his  soul, 
As  with  blanched  lip  and  visage  wan 
Before  the  stony-hearted  Don 

He  kneeled  upon  my  whole. 


71 

OIKES,  housebreaker,  of  Houndsditch, 

Habitually  swore; 
But  so  surpassingly  profane 

He  never  was  before, 
As  on  a  night  in  winter, 

When — softly  as  he  stole 
In  the  dim  light  from  stair  to  stair, 
Noiseless  as  boys  who  in  her  lair 
Seek  to  surprise  a  fat  old  hare — 
He  barked  his  shinbone,  unaware 

Encountering  my  whole. 

As  pours  the  Anio  plainward, 

"When  rains  have  swollen  the  dykes, 

So,  with  such  noise,  poured  down  my  first 
Stirred  by  the  shins  of  Sikes. 


88  CHARADES. 

The  Butler  Bibulus  heard  it; 

And  straightway  ceased  to  snore, 
And  sat  up,  like  an  egg  on  end, 

"While  men  might  count  a  score: 
Then  spake  he  to  Tigerius, 

A  Buttons  bold  was  he: 
"Buttons,  I  think  there's  thieves  about; 
Just  strike  a  light  and  tumble  out; 
If  you  can't  find  one  go  without, 

And  see  what  you  may  see." 

But  now  was  all  the  household, 

Almost,  upon  its  legs, 
Each  treading  carefully  about 

As  if  they  trod  on  eggs. 
"With  robe  far-streaming  issued 

Paterfamilias  forth; 
And  close  behind  him, — stout  and  true 

And  tender  as  the  North, — 


CHARADES.  +          89 

Came  Mrs.  P.,  supporting 
On  her  broad  arm  her  fourth. 

Betsy  the  nurse,  who  never 

From  largest  beetle  ran, 
And — conscious  p'raps  of  pleasing  caps — 

The  housemaids,  formed  the  van: 
And  Bibulus  the  butler, 

His  calm  brows  slightly  arched; 
(No  mortal  wight  had  ere  that  night 
Seen  him  with  shirt  unstarched;) 
And  Bob  the  shockhaired  knifeboy, 

Wielding  two  Sheffield  blades, 
And  James  Plush  of  the  sinewy  legs, 

The  love  of  lady's  maids : 
And  charwoman  and  chaplain 

Stood  mingled  in  a  mass, 
And  "  Things,"  thought  he  of  Houndsditch, 
"Is  come  to  a  pretty  pass." 


90  CXARADES. 

Beyond  all  things  a  baby 

Is  to  the  schoolgirl  dear; 
Next  to  herself  the  nursemaid  loves 

Her  dashing  grenadier; 
Only  with  life  the  sailor 

Parts  from  the  British  flag; 
While  one  hope  lingers,  the  cracksman's  fingers 

Drop  not  his  hard-earned  swag. 

But,  as  hares  do  my  second 

Thro'  green  Calabria's  copses, 
As  females  vanish  at  the  sight 

Of  short-horns  and  of  wopses; 
So,  dropping  forks  and  teaspoons, 

The  pride  of  Houndsditch  fled, 
Dumbfoundered  by  the  hue  and  cry 
He'd  raised  up  overhead. 

»  *  *  *  • 


CHARADES.  91 

They  gave  him — did  the  judges — 

As  much  as  was  his  due. 
And,  Saxon,  shouldst  thou  e'er  be  led 

To  deem  this  tale  untrue; 
Then — any  night  in  winter, 

When  the  cold  north  wind  blows, 
And  bairns  are  told  to  keep  out  cold 

By  tallowing  the  nose: 
"When  round  the  fire  the  elders 

Are  gathered  in  a  bunch, 
And  the  girls  are  doing  crochet, 

And  the  boys  are  reading  Punch: — 
Go  thou  and  look  in  Leech's  book; 

There  haply  shalt  thou  spy 
A  stout  man  on  a  staircase  stand, 
"With  aspect  anything  but  bland, 
And  rub  his  right  shin  with  his  hand, 

To  witness  if  I  lie. 


PKOVEBBIAL  PHILOSOPHY. 


A  RT    thou  beautiful,    0    my  daughter,    as    the 

budding  rose  of  April? 
Are  all  thy  motions  music,  and  is  poetry  throned 

in  thine  eye? 
Then  hearken  unto  me;  and  I  will  make  the  bud 

a  fair  flower, 
I  will  plant  it  upon   the   bank   of  Elegance,  and 

water  it  with  the  water  of  Cologne; 
And  in  the  season  it  shall  "  come  out,"  yea  bloom, 

the  pride  of  the  parterre  ; 
Ladies  shall  marvel  at  its  beauty,  and  a  Lord  shall 

pluck  it  at  the  last. 


PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY,  93 


©f 

Study  first  Propriety:  for  she  is  indeed  the  Pole- 
star 

Which  shall  guide  the  artless  maiden  through  the 
mazes  of  Yanity  Fair; 

Nay,  she  is  the  golden  chain  which  holdeth  to- 
gether Society; 

The  lamp  by  whose  light  young  Psyche  shall  ap- 
proach unblamed  her  Eros. 

Verily  Truth  is  as  Eve,  which  was  ashamed  being 
naked ; 

Wherefore  doth  Propriety  dress  her  with  the  fair 
foliage  of  artifice : 

And  when  she  is  drest,  behold !  she  knoweth  not 
herself  again. — 

I  walked  in  the  Forest;  and  above  me  stood  the 
Yew, 


94  PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

Stood  like  a  slumbering  giant,  shrouded  in  im- 
penetrable shade; 

Then  I  pass'd  into  the  citizen's  garden,  and  marked 
a  tree  clipt  into  shape, 

(The  giant's  locks  had  been  shorn  by  the  Dalilah- 
shears  of  Decorum;) 

And  I  said,  "Surely  nature  is  goodly;  but  how 
much  goodlier  is  Art!" 

I  heard  the  wild  notes  of  the  lark  floating  far  over 
the  blue  sky, 

And  my  foolish  heart  went  after  him,  and,  lo! 
I  blessed  him  as  he  rose; 

Foolish!  for  far  better  is  the  trained  boudoir 
bulfinch, 

Which  pipeth  the  semblance  of  a  tune,  and  me- 
chanically draweth  up  water: 

And  the  reinless  steed  of  the  desert,  though  his 
neck  be  clothed  with  thunder, 


PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY.  95 

Must  yield  to  him  that  danceth  and  '  moveth  in  the 

circles'  at  Astley's. 

For  verily,  0  my  daughter,  the  world  is  a  masque- 
rade, 
And  God  made  thee  one  thing,  that  thou  mightest 

make  thyself  another: 
A  maiden's  heart  is  as  champagne,   ever  aspiring 

and  struggling  upwards, 
And  it  needed  that  its  motions  be  checked  by  the 

silvered  cork  of  Propriety : 
He  that  can  afford  the  price,  his  be  the  precious 

treasure, 
Let  him  drink  deeply  of  its  sweetness,  nor  grumble 

if  it  tasteth  of  the  cork. 


Choose  judiciously  thy  friends ;  for  to  discard  them 
is  undesirable, 


96  PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

Yet  it  is  better  to  drop  thy  friends,  0  my  daughter, 

than  to  drop  thy  <HV 
Dost  thou  know  a  wise  woman?  yea,  wiser  than 

the  children  of  light? 
Hath   she   a  position?    and  a  title?    and  are   her 

parties  in  the  Morning  Post? 
If  thou  dost,  cleave   unto   her,  and  give  up  unto 

her  thy  "body  and  mind; 
Think   with  her   ideas,   and  distribute   thy  smiles 

at  her  bidding: 
So   shalt   thou    become    like    unto    her;    and   thy 

manners  shall  be  "formed," 
And   thy  name   shall  be  a  Sesame,  at   which   the 

doors  of  the  great  shall  fly  open: 
Thou   shalt  know  every  Peer,  his  arms,   and  the 

date  of  his  creation, 
His  pedigree  and  their  intermarriages,  and  cousins 

to  the  sixth  remove : 


PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY.  97 

Thou  shalt  kiss  the  hand  of  Boyalty,  and  lo!  in 

next  morning's  papers, 
Side  by  side  with  rumours  of  wars,  and  stories  of 

shipwrecks  and  sieges, 
Shall  appear  thy  name,  and   the  minutiaB  of  thy 

head-dress  and  petticoat, 
For  an  enraptured  public  to  muse  upon  over  their 

matutinal  muffin. 


Eead  not  Milton,  for  he  is  dry;   nor  Shakespeare, 

for  he  wrote  of  common  life : 
Nor   Scott,    for  his  romances,   though   fascinating, 

are  yet  intelligible: 
Nor  Thackeray,  for  he  is  a  Hogarth,  a  photographer 

who  flattereth  not: 
Nor  Kingsley,  for  he  shall  teach  thee  that   thou 

shouldest  not  dream,  but  do. 

TT 


98  PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

Bead  incessantly  thy  Burke ;  that  Burke  who,  nobler 

than  he  of  old, 
Treateth  of  the  Peer  and  Peeress,  the  truly  Sublime 

and  Beautiful: 
Likewise  study  the  " creations"  of  "the  Prince  of 

modern  Komance"; 
Sigh  over  Leonard  the  Martyr,  and  smile  on  Pelham 

the  puppy: 

Learn  how  "  love  is  the  dram-drinking  of  existence"; 
And  how  we  "invoke,  in  the  Gadara  of  our  still 

closets, 
The  beautiful  ghost  of  the  Ideal,  with  the  simple 

wand  of  the  pen." 
Listen  how  Maltravers  and  the  orphan  "forgot  all 

but  love," 
And  how  Devereux's  family  chaplain   "made  and 

unmade  kings": 
How  Eugene  Aram,  though  a  thief,   a  liar,   and 

a  murderer, 


PROVERBIAL  PHILOSOPHY.  99 

Yet,  being  intellectual,  was  amongst  the  noblest  of 

mankind. 
So  shalt  thou  live  in  a  world  peopled  with  heroes 

and  master-spirits; 
And  if  thou  canst  not  realize  the  Ideal,  thou  shalt 

at  least  idealize  the  Real. 


TRANSLATIONS, 


LYCIDAS. 

TTET  once  more,  0  ye  laurels!   and  once  more, 
Ye  myrtles  brown,  with  ivy  never  sere, 
I  come  to  pluck  your  berries  harsh  and  crude, 
And  with  forced  fingers  rude 

Shatter  your  leaves  before  the  mellowing  year. 

"^ 
Bitter  constraint,  and  sad  occasion  dear, 

Compels  me  to  disturb  your  season  due; 
For  Lycidas  is  dead,  ^dead  ere  his  prime, 
Young  Lycidas,  and  hath  not  left  his  peer: 
Who  would  not  sing  for  Lycidas?    He  knew 
Himself  to  sing,  and  build  the  lofty  rhyme. 
He  must  not  float  upon  his  watery  bier 
Unwept,  and  welter  to  the  parching  wind, 
"Without  the  meed  of  some  melodious  tear. 


LYCIDAS. 

Tj^N!  iterum  laurus,  iterum  salvete  myrica 
Pallentes,  nullique  hederse  quse  ceditis  sevo. 
Has  venio  baccas,  quanquam  sapor  asper  acerbis, 
Decerptum,  quassumque  manu  folia  ipsa  proterva, 
Maturescentem  prasvortens  improbus  annum. 
Causa  gravis,  pia  causa,  subest,  et  amara  deum  lex ; 
Nee  jam  sponte  mea  vobis  rata  tempora  turbo. 
Nam  periit  Lycidas,  periit  superante  juventa 
Imberbis  Lycidas,  nee  par  manet  illius  alter. 
Quis  cantare  super  Lycida  neget  ?  Ipse  quoque  artem 
Norat  Apollineam,  versumque  imponere  versu. 
Non  nullo  vitreum  fas  innatet  ille  feretrum 
Flente,  voluteturque  arentes  corpus  ad  auras, 
Indotatum  adeo  et  lacrymse  vocalis  egenum. 


104  TRANSLATIONS. 

Begin  then,  sisters  of  the  sacred  well, 
That  from  beneath  the  seat  of  Jove  doth  spring; 
Begin,  and  somewhat  loudly  sweep  the  string. 
Hence  with  denial  vain,  and  coy  excuse, 
So  may  some  gentle  muse 
"With  lucky  words  favour  my  destined  urn, 
And,  as  he  passes,  turn 
And  bid  fair  peace  be  to  my  sable  shroud: 
For  we  were  nursed  upon  the  self-same  hill, 
Fed  the  same  flock  by  fountain,  shade,  and  rill. 

Together  both,  ere  the  high  lawns  appeared 
Under  the  opening  eyelids  of  the  morn, 
"We  drove  afield,  and  both  together  heard 
"What  time  the  gray  fly  winds  her  sultry  horn, 
Battening  our  flocks  with  the  fresh  dews  of  night, 
Oft  till  the  star  that  rose,  at-  evening,  bright, 
Toward  Heaven's  descent  had  sloped  his  westering 
wheel. 


LYCIDAS.  105 

Quare  agite,  o  sacri  fontis  queis  cura,  sorores, 
Cui  sub  inaccessi  sella  Jovis  exit  origo: 
Incipite,  et  sonitu  graviore  impellite  chordas. 
Lingua  procul  male  prompta  loqui,  suasorque  mo- 

rarum 

Sit  pudor:   alloquiis  ut  mollior  una  secundis 
Pieridum  faveat,  cui  mox  ego  destiner,  urnaB : 
Et  gressus  prsetergrediens  convertat,  et  "Esto" 
Dicat  "amcena  quies  atra  tibi  veste  latenti:" 
Uno  namque  jugo  duo  nutribamur:    easdem 
Pascebamus  oves  ad   fontem  et  rivulum    et   um- 
bram. 

Tempore  nos  illo,  nemorum  convexa  priusquam, 
Aurora  reserante  oculos,  ccepere  videri, 
Urgebamus  eqaos  ad  pascua :    novimus  horam 
Aridus  audiri  solitus  qua  clangor  asili; 
Kore  recente  greges  passi  pinguescere  noctis 
Saepius,  albuerat  donee  quod  vespere  sidus 
Hesperios  axes  prono  inclinasset  Olympo. 


106  TRANSLATIONS. 

Meanwhile  the  rural  ditties  were  not  mute, 
Tempered  to  the  oaten  flute; 
Rough  satyrs  danced,  and  fauns  with  cloven  heel 
From  the  glad  sound  would  not  be  absent  long, 
And  old  Damsetas  loved  to  hear  our  song. 

But  oh,  the  heavy  change,  now  thou  art  gone, 
Now  thou  art  gone,  and  never  must  return! 
Thee,  shepherd,  thee  the  woods,  and  desert  caves 
With  wild  thyme  and  the  gadding  vine  o'ergrown, 
And  all  their  echoes  mourn. 
The  willows,  and  the  hazel  copses  green, 
Shall  now  no  more  be  seen, 
Fanning  their  joyous  leaves  to  thy  soft  lays. 
As  killing  as  the  canker  to  the  rose, 
Or  taint-worm  to  the  weanling  herds  that  graze, 
Or  frost  to  flowers,  that  their  gay  wardrobe  wear, 
When  first  the  white-thorn  blows; 
Such,  Lycidas,  thy  loss  to  shepherd's  ear. 
"Where  were  ye,  nymphs,  when  the  remorseless  deep 


LTCIDAS.  107 

At  pastorales  non  cessavere  camcenas, 
Fistula  disparibus  quas  temperat  apta  cicutis: 
Saltabant  Satyri  informes,  nee  murmure  Iseto 
Capripedes  potuere  diu  se  avertere  Fauni; 
Damaetasque  modos  nostros  longaevus  amabat. 

Jamque,    relicta   tibi,    quantum   mutata   viden- 

tur 

Rura — relicta  tibi,  cui  non  spes  ulla  regressus! 
Te  sylvaB,  teque  antra,  puer,  deserta  ferarum, 
Incultis  obducta  thy  mis  ac  vite  sequaci, 
Decessisse  gemunt;   gemitusque  reverberat  Echo. 
Non  salices,  non  glauca  ergo  coryleta  videbo 
Holies  ad  numeros  Ia3tum  motare  cacumen:— 
Quale  rosis  scabies;    quam  formidable  vermis 
Depulso  jam  lacte  gregi,  dum  tondet  agellos; 
Sive  quod,  indutis  verna  jam  veste,  pruinse 
Floribus,  albet  ubi  primum  paliurus  in  agris: 
Tale  fuit  nostris,  Lycidam  periisse,  bubulcis. 

Qua,  Nymphas,  latuistis,  ubi  crudele  profundum 


108  TEANSLA  TIONS. 

Closed  o'er  the  head  of  your  loved  Lycidas? 

For  neither  were  ye  playing  on  the  steep, 

Where  your  old  bards,  the  famous  Druids,  lie; 

Nor  on  the  shaggy  top  of  Mona  high, 

Nor  yet  where  Deva  spreads  her  wizard  stream: 

Ay  me!   I  fondly  dream! 

Had  ye  been  there,  for  what  could  that  have  done  ? 

What  could  the  muse  herself  that  Orpheus  bore, 

The  muse  herself  for  her  enchanting  son, 

Whom  universal  nature  did  lament, 

When  by  the  rout  that  made  the  hideous  roar, 

His  gory  visage  down  the  stream  was  sent, 

Down  the  swift  Hebrus  to  the  Lesbian  shore? 

Alas!   what  boots  it  with  incessant  care 
To  tend  the  homely  slighted  shepherd's  trade, 
And  strictly  meditate  the  thankless  muse? 
Were  it  not  better  done  as  others  use, 
To  sport  with  Amaryllis  in  the  shade, 
Or  with  the  tangles  of  Nesera's  hair? 


LYCIDAS.  109 

Delicias  Lycidam  vestras  sub  vortice  torsit? 
Nam  neque  vos  scopulis  turn  ludebatis  in  illis 
Qtios  veteres,  Druidse,  vates,  illustria  servant 
Nomina;   nee  celsse  setoso  in  culmine  Monse, 
Nee,  quos  Deva  locos  magicis  amplectitur  undis. 
Yae  mihi!   delusos  exercent  somnia  sensus: 
Venissetis  enim;    numquid  venisse  juvaret? 
Numquid  Pieris  ipsa  parens  interfuit  Orphei, 
Pieris  ipsa  sua3  sobolis,  qui  carmine  rexit 
Corda  virtim,  quern  terra  olim,  quam  magna,  dolebat, 
Tempore  quo,  dirum  auditu  strepitante  caterva, 
Ora  secundo  amni  missa,  ac  foedata  cruore, 
Lesbia  praecipitans  ad  litora  detulit  Hebrus? 
Eheu  quid  prodest  noctes  instare  diesque 
Pastorum  curas  spretas  humilesque  tuendo, 
Nilque  relaturam  meditari  rite  Camosnam? 
Nonne  fuit  satius  lusus  agitare  sub  umbra, 
(Ut  mos  est  aliis,)  Amaryllida  sive  Neseram 
Sectanti,  ac  tortis  digitum  impediisse  capillis? 


11 0  TEA  NSLA  TIONS. 

Fame  is  the  spur  that  the  clear  spirit  doth  raise 
(That  last  infirmity  of  noble  mind) 
To  scorn  delights,  and  live  laborious  days. 
But  the  fair  guerdon  when  we  hope  to  find, 
And  think  to  burst  out  into  sudden  blaze, 
Comes  the  blind  fury  with  the  abhorred  shears, 
And  slits  the  thin-spun  life.     "But  not  the  praise," 
Phoebus  replied,  and  touched  my  trembling  ears; 
"Fame  is  no  plant  that  grows  on  mortal  soil, 
Nor  in  the  glistering  foil 

Set  off  to  the  world,  nor  in  broad  rumour  lies, 
Bat  lives  and  spreads  aloft  by  those  pure  eyes, 
And  perfect  witness  of  all-judging  Jove; 
As  he  pronounces  lastly  on  each  deed, 
Of  so  much  fame  in  Heaven  expect  thy  meed." 
0  fountain  Arethuse,  and  thou  honoured  flood, 
Smooth-sliding  Mincius,  crowned  with  vocal  reeds, 
That  strain  I  heard  was  of  a  higher  mood : 


LTCIDAS.  HI 

Scilicet  ingenuum  cor  Fama,  novissimus  error 
Ilia  animi  majoris,  uti  calcaribus  urget 
Spernere  delicias  ac  dedi  rebus  agendis. 
Quanquam— exoptatam  jam  spes  attingere  dotem; 
Jam  nee  opinata  remur  splendescere  flamma: — 
Caeca  sed  invisa  cum  forfice  venit  Erinnys, 
Ha3rentemque  secat  tenui  subtemine  vitam. 
"At  Famam  non  ilia,"  refert,  tangitque  trementes 
Phoebus  Apollo  aures.     "Fama  haud,  vulgaris  ad 

instar 

Floris,  amat  terrestre  solum,  fictosque  nitores 
Queis  inhiat  populus,  nee  cum  Eumore  patescit. 
Vivere  dant  illi,  dant  increbrescere  late 
Puri  oculi  ac  vox  summa  Jovis,  cui  sola  Potestas. 
Fecerit  ille  semel  de  facto  quoque  virorum 
Arbitrium:   tantum  famae  manet  aathera  nactis." 

Fons  Arethusa !    sacro  placidus  qui  laberis  alveo, 
Frontem  vocali  prsetextus  arundine,  Minci! 
Sensi  equidem  gravius  carmen.     Kunc  cetera  pastor 


112  TEANSLATIONS. 

But  now  my  oat  proceeds, 

And  listens  to  the  herald  of  the  sea 

That  came  in  Neptune's  plea; 

He  asked  the  waves,  and  asked  the  felon  winds, 

What  hard  mishap  had  doomed  this  gentle  swain? 

And  questioned  every  gust  of  rugged  wings, 

That  blows  from  off  each  beaked  promontory: 

They  knew  not  of  his  story, 

And  sage  JELippotades  their  answer  brings, 

That  not  a  blast  was  from  his  dungeon  strayed, 

The  air  was  calm,  and  on  the  level  brine 

Sleek  Panope  with  all  her  sisters  played. 

It  was  that  fatal  and  perfidious  bark 

Built  in  the  eclipse,  and  rigged  with  curses  dark, 

That  sunk  so  low  that  sacred  head  of  thine. 

Next  Camus,  reverend  sire,  went  footing  slow, 
His  mantle  hairy,  and  his  bonnet  sedge, 
Inwrought  with  figures  dim,  and  on  the  edge, 
Like  to  that  sanguine  flower  inscribed  with  woe. 
"Ah!    who  hath   reft,"   quoth  he,    "my  dearest 
pledge?" 


LYOIDJ.S.  113 

Exsequor.     Adstat  enim  missus  pro  rege  marine, 
Seque  rogasse  refert  fluctus,  ventosque  rapaces, 
Quae  sors  dura  nimis  tenerum  rapuisset  agrestem. 
Compellasse  refert  alarum  quicquid  ab  omni 
Spirat,  acerba  sonans,  scopulo,  qui  cuspidis  instar 
Prominet  in  pelagus;    fama  baud  pervenerat  illuc. 
Haec  ultro  pater  Hippotades  responsa  ferebat: 
"Nulli  sunt  nostro  palati  carcere  venti. 
Straverat  aequor  aquas,  et  sub  Jove  compta  sereno 
Lusum  exercebat  Panope  nympbaeque  sorores. 
Quam  Furia?  struxere  per  interlunia,  leto 
Fetam  ac  fraude  ratem, — malos  velarat  Erinnys, — 
Credas  in  mala  tanta  caput  mersisse  sacratum." 

Proximus  huic  tardum  senior  se  Camus  agebat; 
Cui  setosa  cblamys,  cui  pileus  ulva:   figuris 
Idem  intertextus  dubiis  erat,  utque  cruentos 
Quos  perbibent  flores,  inscriptus  margine  luctum. 
"Nam   quis,"   ait,    Upra3dulce   meum   me    pignus 
ademit?" 


1 1 4  TEANSLA  TIONS. 

Last  came,  and  last  did  go, 

The  pilot  of  the  Galilean  lake. 

Two  massy  keys  he  bore,  of  metals  twain 

(The  golden  opes,  the  iron  shuts  amain). 

He  shook  his  mitred  locks,  and  stern  bespake: 

11  How  well  could  I  have  spared  for  thee,  young  swain, 

Enow  of  such  as  for  their  bellies'  sake 

Creep,  and  intrude,  and  climb  into  the  fold! 

Of  other  care  they  little  reckoning  make, 

Than  how  to  scramble  at  the  shearer's  feast, 

And  shove  away  the  worthy  bidden  guest; 

Blind  mouths!   that  scarce  themselves  know  how 

to  hold 

A  sheep-hook,  or  have  learned  aught  else  the  least 
That  to  the  faithful  herdsman's  art  belongs! 
What  recks  it  them  ?    What  need  they  ?    They  are 

sped; 

And  when  they  list,  their  lean  and  flashy  songs 
Grate  on  their  scrannel  pipes  of  wretched  straw; 
The  hungry  sheep  look  up,  and  are  not  fed, 
But  swollen  with  wind,  and  the  rank  mist  they  draw, 
Eot  inwardly,  and  foul  contagion  spread: 
Besides  what  the  grim  wolf  with  privy  paw 
Daily  devours  apace,  and  nothing  said. 


LYCIDAS.  115 

Post  hos,  qui  Galilsea  regit  per  stagna  carinas, 
Post    hos    venit    iturus:     habet    manus    utraque 

clavim, 

(Queis  aperit  clauditque)  auro  ferrove  gravatam. 
Mitra  tegit  crines;   quassis  quibus,  acriter  infit: 
"Scilicet  optassem  pro  te  dare  corpora  leto 
Sat  multa,  o  juvenis:   quot  serpunt  ventribus  acti, 
Vi  quot  iter  faciunt  spretis  in  ovilia  muris. 
Hie  labor,  hoc  opus  est,  pec  as  ut  tondente  magistro 
PrsBripiant  epulas,  trudatur  dignior  hospes. 
Capti  oculis,  non  ore!   pedum  tractare  nee  ipsi 
Norunt;   quotve  bonis  sunt  upilionibus  artes. 
Sed  quid  enim  refert,  quove  est  opus,  omnia  nactis  ? 
Fert  ubi  mens,  tenue  ac  deductum  carmen  avenam 
Kadit  stridentem  stipulis.     Pastore  negato 
Suspicit  segra  pecus:   vento  gravis  ac  lue  tracta 
Tabescit;   mox^fceda  capit  contagia  vulgus. 
Quid  dicam,  stabulis  ut  clandestinus  oberrans 
Expleat  ingluviem  tristis  lupus,  indice  nullo? 


116  TRANSLATIONS.  , 

But  that  two-handed  engine  at  the  door 

Stands  ready  to  smite  once,  and  smite  no  more." 

Eeturn,  Alpheus,  the  dread  voice  is  past, 
That  shrunk  thy  streams;   return,  Sicilian  muse, 
And  call  the  vales,  and  bid  them  hither  cast 
Their  bells  and  flowerets  of  a  thousand  hues. 
Ye  valleys  low,  where  the  mild  whispers  use 
Of  shades,  and  wanton  winds,  and  gushing  brooks, 
On  whose  fresh  lap  the  swart  star  sparely  looks, 
Throw  hither  all  your  quaint  enamelled  eyes, 
That  on  the  green  turf  suck  the  honeyed  showers, 
And  purple  all  the  ground  with  vernal  flowers. 
Bring  the  rathe  primrose  that  forsaken  dies, 
The  tufted  crow-toe,  and  pale  jessamine, 
The  white  pink,  and  the  pansy  freaked  with  jet, 
The  glowing  violet, 

The  musk-rose  and  the  well-attired  woodbine, 
With  cowslips  wan  that  hang  the  pensive  head, 
And  every  flower  that  sad  embroidery  wears: 
Bid  amaranthus  all  his  beauty  shed, 
And  daffodillies  fill  their  cups  with  tears, 


LYCIDAS.  117 

Ilia  tamen  bimanus  custodit  machina  portam, 
Stricta,  paratque  malis  plagam  non  amplius  unam." 
En,  Alphee,  redi!     Quibus  ima  cohorruit  unda 
Voces  praeteriere  :  redux  quoque  Sicelis  omnes 
Musa  voca  valles;  hue  pendentes  hyacinthos 
Fac  jaciant,  teneros  hue  flores  mille  colorum. 
0  nemorum  depressa,  sonant  ubi  crebra  susurri 
Uinbrarum,  et  salientis  aquae,  Zephyrique  protervi ; 
Queisque  virens  gremium  penetrare  Canicula  parcit : 
Picturata  modis  jacite  hue  mihi  lumina  miris, 
Mellitos  imbres  queis  per  viridantia  rura 
Mos  haurire,  novo  quo  tellus  yere  rubescat. 
Hue  ranunculus,  ipse  arbos,  pallorque  ligustri, 
Quaeque  relicta  perit,  vixdum  matura  feratur 
Primula:   quique  ebeno  distinctus,  caetera  flavet 
Flos,  et  qui  specie  nomen  detrectat  eburna. 
Ardenti  violas  rosa  proxima  fundat  odores; 
Serpyllamque  placens,  et  acerbo  flexile  vultu 
Verbascum,  ac  tristem  si  quid  sibi  legit  amictum. 


118  TRANSLATIONS. 

To  strow  the  laureate  hearse  where  Lycid  lies. 

For  so  to  interpose  a  little  ease, 

Let  our  frail  thoughts  dally  with  false  surmise. 

Ay  me !  whilst  thee  the  shores  and  sounding  seas 

"Wash  far  away,  where  ere  thy  bones  are  hurled, 

"Whether  beyond  the  stormy  Hebrides, 

"Where  thou,  perhaps,  under  the  whelming  tide 

"Visit' st  the  bottom  of  the  monstrous  world; 

Or  whether  thou,  to  our  moist  vows  denied, 

Sleep'st  by  the  fable  of  Bellerus  old, 

"Where  the  great  vision  of  the  guarded  mount 

Looks  toward  Namancos  and  Bayona's  hold; 

Look  homeward,  angel  now,  and  melt  with  ruth: 

And,  0  ye  dolphins,  waft  the  hapless  youth. 

Weep  no  more,  woeful  shepherds,  weep  no  more, 
For  Lycidas  your  sorrow  is  not  dead, 
Sunk  though  he  be  beneath  the  watery  floor; 
So  sinks  the  day-star  in  the  ocean-bed, 
And  yet  anon  repairs  his  drooping  head, 


LYCIDA8.  H9 

Quicquid  habes  pulcri  fundas,  amarante:   coronent 
Narcissi  lacrymis  calices,  sternantque  feretrum 
Tectus  ubi  lauro  Lycidas  jacet :   adsit  ut  oti 
Saltern  aliquid,  ficta  ludantur  imagine  mentes. 
Me  miserum !     Tua  nam  litus,  pelagusque  sonorum 
Ossa  ferunt,  queiscunque  procul  jacteris  in  oris; 
Sive  procellosas  ultra  Symplegadas  in  gens 
Jam  subter  mare  visis,  alit  quae  monstra  profundum ; 
Sive  (negarit  enim  precibus  te  Jupiter  udis) 
Cum  sene  Bellero,  veterum  qui  fabula,  dormis, 
Qua  custoditi  mentis  praegrandis  imago 
Kamancum  atque  arces  longe  prospectat  Iberas. 
Verte  retro  te,  verte  deum,  mollire  precando: 
Et  vos  infaustum  juvenem  delphines  agatis. 

Ponite  jam  lacrymas,  sat  enim  flevistis,  agrestes. 
Kon  periit  Lycidas,  vestri  moeroris  origo, 
Marmorei  quanquam  fluctus  hausere  cadentem. 
Sic  et  in  aequoreum  se  condere  seepe  cubile 
Luciferum  videasj   nee  longum  tempus,  et  effert 


120  TRANSLATIONS. 

And  tricks  his  beams,  and  with  new-spangled  ort 
Flames  in  the  forehead  of  the  morning  sky : 
So  Lycidas  sunk  low,  but  mounted  high, 
Through  the  dear  might  of  him  that  walked  the 

waves, 

Where  other  groves  and  other  streams  along, 
With  nectar  pure  his  oozy  locks  he  laves, 
And  hears  the  inexpressive  nuptial  song, 
In  the  blest  kingdoms  meek  of  joy  and  love. 
There  entertain  him  all  the  saints  above, 
In  solemn  troops,  and  sweet  societies, 
That  sing,  and  singing  in  their  glory  move, 
And  wipe  the  tears  for  ever  from  his  eyes. 
Now,  Lycidas,  the  shepherds  weep  no  more; 
Henceforth  thou  art  the  genius  of  the  shore, 
In  thy  large  recompense,  and  shalt  be  good 
To  all  that  wander  in  that  perilous  flood. 

Thus  sang  the  uncouth  swain  to  the  oaks  and  rills, 
While  the  still  morn  went  out  with  sandals  gray, 


LYCIDAS.  121 

Demissum  caput,  igne  novo  vestitus;    e$,  aumm 
Ceu  rutilans,  in  fronte  poll  splendescit  Eoi. 
Sic  obiit  Lycidas,  sic  assurrexit  in  altum; 
Illo,  quern  peditem  mare  sustulit,  usus  amico. 
Nunc  campos  alios,  alia  errans  stagna  secundum, 
Rorantesque  lavans  integro  nectare  crines, 
Audit  inauditos  nobis  cantari  Hymeneeos, 
Fortunatorum  sedes  ubi  mitis  amorem 
Laetitiamque  affert.     Hie  ilium,  quotquot  Olympum 
Pra3dulces  habitant  turba?,  venerabilis  ordo, 
Circumstant :   aliaeque  canunt,  interque  canendum 
Maj  estate  sua  veniunt  abeuntque  caterva?, 
Omnibus  ex  oculis  lacrymas  arcere  paratse. 
Ergo  non  Lycidam  lamentabuntur  agrestes. 
Divus  eris  ripa3,  puer,  hoc  ex  tempore  nobis, 
Grande,  nee  immerito,  veniens  in  munus;  opemque 
Poscent  usque  tuam,  dubiis  quot  in  a3stubus  errant. 

Ha3§  incultus  aquis  puer  ilicibusque  canebat; 
Processit  dum  mane  silens  talaribus  albis. 


122  TRANSLATIONS. 

He  touched  the  tender  stops  of  various  quills, 
With  eager  thought  warbling  his  Doric  lay: 
And  now  the  sun  had  stretched  out  all  the  hills, 
And  now  was  dropped  into  the  western  bay; 
At  last  he  rose,  and  twitched  his  mantle  blue, 
Tomorrow  to  fresh  woods,  and  pastures  new. 


LTCIDAS.  123 

Multa  manu  teneris  discrimina  tentat  avenis, 
Dorica  non  studio  modulatus  carmina  segni: 
Et  jam  sol  abiens  colles  extenderat  omnes, 
Jamque  sub  Hesperium  se  praBcipitaverat  alveum. 
Surrexit  tandem,  glaucumque  retraxit  amictum; 
Cras  lucos,  reor,  ille  noyos,  nova  pascua  quseret. 


124  TRANSLATIONS. 


IN  MEMORIAM. 

on. 

rpHE  time  admits  not  flowers  or  leaves 
To  deck  the  banquet.  Fiercely  flies 
The  blast  of  North  and  East,  and  ice 

Makes  daggers  at  the  sharpened  eaves, 

And  bristles  all  the  brakes  and  thorns 
To  yon  hard  crescent,  as  she  hangs 
Above  the  wood  which  grides  and  clangs 

Its  leafless  ribs  and  iron  horns 

Together,  in  the  drifts  that  pass, 
To  darken  on  the  rolling  brine 
That  breaks  the  coast.     But  fetch  the  wine, 

Arrange  the  board  and  brim  the  glass; 


IN  MEMORIAM.  125 


IN  MEMOEIAM. 

"VTON  hora  myrto,  non  violis  sinit 
Nitere  mensas.     Trux  Aquilo  foras 
Bacchatur,  ac  passim  pruina 
Tigna  sagittifera  coruscant; 

Horretque  saltus  spinifer,  algidae 
Sub  falce  lunse;   dum  nemori  imminet, 
Quod  stridet  illiditque  costis 
Cornua,  jam  vacuis  honorum, 

Ferrata;   nimbis  prsetereuntibus, 
Ut  incubent  tandem  implacido  sali 
Q,ui  curvat  oras.     Tu  Falernum 
Prome,  dapes  strue,  die  coronent. 


126  TRANSLATIONS. 

Bring  in  great  logs  and  let  them  lie, 
To  make  a  solid  core  of  heat; 
Be  cheerful-minded,  talk  and  treat 

Of  all  things  ev'n  as  he  were  by: 

We  keep  the  day  with  festal  cheer, 

With  books  and  music.     Surely  we 
Will  drink  to  him  whate'er  he  be, 

And  sing  the  songs  he  loved  to  hear. 


IN  MEMORIAL  127 

Crateras:   ignis  cor  solidum,  graves 
Kepone  truncos.     Jamque  doloribus 
Loquare  securus  fugatis 

socio  loquereris  illo; 


Hunc  dedicamus  laetitiae  diem 
Lyraeque  musisque.     Illius,  illius 
Da,  quicquid  audit:   nee  silebunt 
Qui  numeri  placuere  vivo. 


128  TRANS  LA  TIONS. 


LAURA  MATILDA'S  DIEGE. 

FROM  'REJECTED  ADDKESSKS.' 

1DALMY  Zephyrs,  lightly  flitting, 
Shade  me  with  your  azure  wing; 

On  Parnassus'  summit  sitting, 
Aid  me,  Clio,  while  I  sing. 

Softly  slept  the  dome  of  Drury 

O'er  the  empyreal  crest, 
When  Alecto's  sister-fury 

Softly  slumb'ring  sunk  to  rest. 

Lo !   from  Lemnos  limping  lamely, 
Lags  the  lowly  Lord  of  Fire, 

Cytherea  yielding  tamely 
To  the  Cyclops  dark  and  dire. 


129 


C\  QTJOT  odoriferi  volitatis  in  aere  venti, 
Ceeruleum  tegmen  vestra  sit  ala  mihi: 

Tuque  sedens  Parnassus  ubi  caput  erigit  ingeas, 
Dextra  veni,  Clio:   teque  docente  canam. 

Jam  suaves  somnos  Tholus  affectare  Theatri 
Coeperat,  igniflui  trans  laqueare  poli: 

Alectus  consanguineam  quo  tempore  Erinnyn, 
Suave  soporatam,  ccepit  adire  quies. 

Lustra  sed  ecce  labans  claudo  pede  Lemma  linquit 
Luridus  (at  lente  lugubriterque)  Deus: 

Amisit  veteres,  amisit  inultus,  amores; 
Teter  habet  Venerem  terribilisque  Cyclops, 


130  TRANSLATIONS. 

Clouds  of  amber,  dreams  of  gladness, 
Dulcet  joys  and  sports  of  youth, 

Soon  must  yield  to  haughty  sadness; 
Mercy  holds  the  veil  to  Truth. 

See  Erostratus  the  second 
Fires  again  Diana's  fane; 

*y  the  Fates  from  Orcus  beckon'd, 
Clouds  envelop  Drury  Lane. 

Where  is  Cupid's  crimson  motion  ? 

Billowy  ecstasy  of  woe, 
Bear  me  straight,  meandering  ocean, 

Where  the  stagnant  torrents  flow. 

Blood  in  every  vein  is  gushing, 
Vixen  vengeance  lulls  my  heart; 

See,  the  Gorgon  gang  is  rushing! 
Never,  never  let  us  part. 


N^ENIA.  131 

Electri  nebulas,  potioraque  somnia  vero; 

Quotque  placent  pueris  gaudia,  quotque  joci; 
Omnia  tristitiae  fas  concessisse  superbae: 

Admissum  Pietas  scitque  premitque  nefas. 

Respice !  Nonne  vides  ut  Erostratus  alter  ad  aedem 
Rursus  agat  flammas,  spreta  Diana,  tuam? 

Mox,  Acheronteis  quas  Parca  eduxit  ab  an  trie, 
Druriacam  nubes  corripuere  domum. 

0  ubi  purpurei  motus  pueri  alitis?   o  qui 
Me  mihi  turbineis  surripis,  angor,  aquis ! 

Due,  labyrintheum,  due  me,  mare,  tramite  recto 
Quo  rapid!  fontes,  pigra  caterva,  ruunt! 

Jamque — soporat  enim  peetus  Vindicta  Virago; 

Omnibus  a  venis  sanguinis  unda  salit; 
Gorgoneique  greges  prasceps  (advertel)  feruntur— 

Sim,  precor,  o!    semper  sim  tibi  junctus  ego. 


132  TRANSLATIONS. 


"LEAVES  HAVE  THEIR  TIME  TO  FALL." 

FKLTCIA.  HEMANS. 

T  EAVES  have  their  time  to  fall, 

And  flowers  to  wither  at  the  North- wind's  breath, 
And  stars  to  set:   but  all, 

Thou  hast  all  seasons  for  thine  own,  0  Death! 

Day  is  for  mortal  care, 

Eve  for  glad  meetings  at  the  joyous  hearth, 
Night  for  the  dreams  of  sleep,  the  voice  of  prayer ; 

But  all  for  thee,  thou  mightiest  of  the  earth! 

The  banquet  has  its  hour, 

The  feverish  hour  of  mirth  and  song  and  wine : 
There  comes  a  day  for  grief's  overwhelming  shower, 

A  time  for  softer  tears:   but  all  are  thine. 


"FRONDES  EST  UBI  DECIDANT."          133 


"FRONDES  EST  UBI  DECIDANT." 

TflRONDES  est  ubi  decidant, 
Marcescantque  rosae  flatu  Aquilonio: 

Horis  astra  cadunt  suis; 
Sed,  Mors,  cuncta  tibi  tempora  vindicas. 

Curis  nata  virum  dies; 
Vesper  colloquiis  dulcibus  ad  focum; 

Somnis  nox  magis,  et  preci: 
Sed  nil,  Terrigenum  maxima,  non  tibi. 

Festis  hora  epulis  datur, 
(Fervens  hora  jocis,  carminibus,  mero;) 

Fusis  altera  lacrymis 
Aut  fletu  tacito:   quasque  tamen  tua. 


1 34  TEANSLA  TIONS. 

Youth  and  the  opening  rose 

May  look  like  things  too  glorious  for  decay, 
And  smile  at  thee! — but  thou  art  not  of  those 

That  wait  the  ripen' d  bloom  to  seize  their  prey! 


«  FRONDES  E8T  UBI  DECIDANT."          135 

Virgo,  seu  rosa  pullulans, 
Tantum  quippe  nitent  ut  nequeant  mori? 

Rident  te?    Neque  enim  soles 
Freed se  parcere,  dum  flos  adoleverit. 


136  TRANSLATIONS. 


"LET  US  TURN  HITHERWARD  OUR  BARK." 
K.  C.  TRENCH. 

"T  ET  us  turn  hither-ward  our  bark,"  they  cried, 
"And,  'mid  the  blisses  of  this  happy  isle, 

Past  toil  forgetting  and  to  come,  abide 
In  joyfulness  awhile. 

And  then,  refreshed,  our  tasks  resume  again, 
If  other  tasks  we  yet  are  bound  unto, 

Combing  the  hoary  tresses  of  the  main 
"With  sharp  swift  keel  anew." 

0  heroes,  that  had  once  a  nobler  aim, 

0  heroes,  sprung  from  many  a  godlike  line, 

"What  will  ye  do,  unmindful  of  your  fame, 
And  of  your  race  divine? 


HVC,"  £TC.  137 


"QUIN  HUG,  FREMEBANT." 

"/")TJIN"  hue,"  fremebant,  "dirigimus  ratem 
Hie,  dote  laeti  divitis  insulas, 
Paullisper  haeremus,  futuri 
Nee  memores  operis,  nee  aeti: 

"Curas  refecti  eras  iteraHmns, 
Si  qua  supersunt  emeritis  novse: 
Pexisse  pernices  acuta 
Canitiem  pelagi  carina." 

0  rebus  olim  nobilioribus 
Pares:   origo  Dl  quibus  ac  Dese 
Heroes!   oblitine  famse 

Haec  struitis,  generisque  summi? 


138  TRANSLATIONS. 

But  they,  by  these  prevailing  voices  now 
Lured,  evermore  draw  nearer  to  the  land, 

Nor  saw  the  wrecks  of  many  a  goodly  prow, 
That  strewed  that  fatal  strand; 

Or  seeing,  feared  not — warning  taking  none 
From  the  plain  doom  of  all  who  went  before, 

Whose  bones  lay  bleaching  in  the  wind  and  sun, 
And  whitened  all  the  shore. 


"QUINHUC,"  ETC.  139 

Atqui  propinquant  jam  magis  ac  magis, 
Ducti  magistra  voce,  solum :    neque 
Videre  prorarum  nefandas 
Fragmina  nobilium  per  oras; 

Vidisse  seu  non  pcenitet — ominis 
Incuriosos  tot  praeeuntium, 

Quorum  ossa  sol  siccantque  venti, 
Candet  adhuc  quibus  omnis  ora. 


140  CARMEN  SMGULAEK 


CARMEN  S^CULARE. 

MDCCCLIII. 

"Quicquid  agunt  homines,  nostri  est  farrago  libelli." 

A  CRIS  hyems  jam  venit :   hyems  genus  omne 

perosa 

Fcemineum,  et  senibus  glacies  non  sequa  rotundis: 
Apparent  rari  stantes  in  tramite  glauco; 
Radit  iter,  cogitque  nives,  sua  tela,  juventus. 
Trux  matrona  ruit,  multos  dominata  per  annos, 
Digna  indigna  minans,  glomeratque  volumina  crurum; 
Parte  senex  alia,  prasrepto  forte  galero, 
Per  plateas  bacchatur;  eum  chorus  omnis  agrestum 
Ridet  anhelantem  frustra,  et  jam  jamque  tenentem 
Quod  petit ;  illud  agunt  venti  prensumque  resorbent. 
Post,  ubi  compositus  tandem  votique  potitus 
Sedit  humi;   flet  crura  tuens  nive  Candida  lenta, 


CARMEN  SJECULARE.  141 

Et  vestem  laceram,  et  venturas  conjugis  iras: 
Itque  domum  tendens  duplices  ad  sidera  palmas, 
Corda  miser,  desiderio  perfixa  galeri. 

At  juvenis  (sed  cruda  viro  viridisque  juventus) 
Quserit  bacciferas,  tunica  pendente,*  tabernas: 
Pervigil  ecce  Baco  furva  depromit  ab  area 
Splendidius  quiddam  solito,  plenumque  saporem 
Laudat,  et  antiqua  jurat  de  stirpe  Jamaica. 
0  fumose  puer,  minium  ne  crede  Baconi: 
Manillas  vocat;    hoc  pratexit  nomine  caules. 

Te  vero,  cui  forte  dedit  maturior  setas 
Scire  potestates  herbarum,  te  quoque  quanti 
Circumstent  casus,  paucis  (adverte)  docebo. 
Prsecipue,  seu  raptat  amor  te  simplicis  herbse,f 
Seu  potius  tenui  Musam  meditaris  avena, 
Procuratorem  fugito,  nam  ferreus  idem  est. 

*  tunicti  pendente :  h.e.  'suspensa  ebrachio.'  Quod  procuratoribus 
illis  valde,  ut  ferunt,  displicebat.  Dicunt  vero  morem  a  barbaris 
tractum,  urbem  Bosporiam  in  fl.  Iside  habitantibus.  Bacciferas 
tabernas :  id  q.  nostri  vocant  "  tobacco-shops." 

+  herbce—avend.  Duo  quasi  genera  artis  poeta  videtur  distinguere. 
'  Weed,'  '  pipe,'  recte  Scaliger. 


142  CARMEN  SJECULAEE. 

Vita  semiboves  catulos,  redimicula  vita 
Candida:    de  coelo  descendit  <rcu£e  aeavrov. 
Nube  vaporis  item  conspergere  prater  euntes 
Jura  vetant,  notumque  furens  quid  femina  possit: 
Odit  enim  dulces  succos  anus,  odit  odorem; 
Odit  Lethsei  diffusa  volumina  fumi. 

Mille  modis  reliqui  fugiuntque  feruntque  laborem. 
Hie  vir  ad  Eleos,  pedibus  talaria  gestans, 
Fervidus  it  latices,  et  nil  acquirit  eundo:* 
Ille  petit  virides  (sed  non  e  gramine)  mensas, 
Pollicitus  meliora  patri,  tormentaquef  flexus 
Per  labyrintheos  plus  quam  mortalia  tentat, 
Acre  tuens,  loculisque  pilas  immittit  et  aufert. 

Sunt  alii,  quos  frigus  aquae,  tenuisque  phaselus 
Captat,  et  sequali  surgentes  ordine  remi. 


*  nil  acquirit  eundo.  Aqua  enim  aspera,  et  radentibus  parum 
habilis.  Immersum  hie  aliquem  et  vix  aut  ne  vix  quidem  extractum 
refert  schol. 

+  tormenta  p.  q.  mortalia.  Elcganter,  ut  solet,  Peile,  l  unearthly 
cannons.'  (Cf.  Ainsw.  D.  s.  v.}  Perrecondita  autem  est  qusestio  de 
lusubus  illorum  temporum,  neque  in  Smithii  Diet.  Class,  satis  elucidata, 
Consule  omnino  Kentf.  de  Bill.  Loculis,  bene  vertas  'pockets.' 


CARMEN  SJECULAEE.  143 

His  edura  cutis,  nee  ligno  rasile  tergum; 
Par  saxi  sinus:    esca  boves  cum  robore  Bassi. 
Tollunt  in  nuinerum  fera  brachia,  vique  feruntur 
Per  fluctus:   sonuere  vise  clamore  secundo: 
At  picea  de  puppe  fremens  immane  bubulcus 
Invocat  exitium  cunctis,  et  verbera  rapto 
Stipite  defessis  onerat  graviora  caballis. 

Nil  humoris  egent  alii.     Labor  arva  vagari. 
Flectere  ludus  equos,  et  amantem  devia*  currura. 
Nosco  purpureas  vestes,  clangentia  nosco 
Signa  tubse,  et  caudas  inter  virgulta  caninas. 
Stat  venator  equus,  tactoque  ferocior  armo 
Surgit  in  arrectum,  vix  auditurus  habenam; 
Et  jam  prata  fuga  superat,  jam  flumina  saltu. 
Aspicias  alios  ab  iniqua  sepe  rotari 
In  caput,  ut  scrobibus  quse  sint  fastigia  quaerant; 
Eque  rubis  aut  amne  pigro  trabere  humida  crura, 
Et  foedam  faciem,  defloccatumque  galerum. 

•  amantem  devia.    Quorsum  hoc,  quaerunt  Interpretes.    Suspicor 
equidem  respiciendos,  vv.  19—23,  de  procuratoribus. 


1 44  CARMEN  SJECVLARE. 

Sanctius  his  animal,  cui  quadravisse  rotundum* 
Mus86  suadet  amor,  Camique  ardentis  imago, 
Inspicat  calamos  contracta  fronte  malignos, 
Perque  Mathematicum  pelagus,  loca  turbida,  anhelat. 
Circum    dirus     "Hymers,"    nee    pondus    inutile, 

"Lignum," 

"Salmoque,"  et  pueris  tu  detestate,  "Colenso," 
Horribiles  visu  formse;   livente  notatse 
Ungue  omnes,  omnes  insignes  aure  canina.f 
Fervet  opus;   taciturn  pertentant  gaudia  pectus 
Tutorum ;  "  pulchrumque  mori,"  dixere,  "  legendo." 

Nee  vero  juvenes  facere  omnes  omnia  possunt. 
Atque  unum  memini  ipse,  deus  qui  dictus  amicis, 
Et  multum  referens  de  rixatorej  secundo, 
Nocte  terens  ulnas  ac  scrinia,  solus  in  alto 
Degebat  tripode;   arcta  viro  vilisque  supellex; 


*  quadr.  rotm.—Cami  ard.  im».    Quadrando  enim  rotundum  (Ang. 

'squaring  the  circle')   Camum   accendere,  juvenes   ingenui   semper 

nitebantur.    Fecisse  vero  quemquam  non  liquet. 
t  rure  canind.    Iterum  audi  Peile,  '  dog's-eared.' 
J  rixatore.    non  male  Heins.cum  Aldina,  'wrangler.' 


CARMEN  SMCUL ARE.  145 

Et  sic  torva  tuens,  pedibus  per  mutua  nexis, 
Sedit,  lacte  mero  mentem  mulcente  tenellam. 
Et  fors  ad  summos  tandem  venisset  honores; 
Sed  rapid!  j uven.es,  queis  gratior  usus  equorum, 
Subveniunt,  siccoque  vetant  inolescere  libro. 
Improbus  hos  Lector  pueros,  mentumque  virili 
Lsevius,  et  dura3  gravat  inclementia  Mortis:* 
Suetos  (agmen  iners),  aliena  vivere  quadra,f 
Et  lituo  vexare  viros,  calcare  caballos. 
Tales  mane  novo  saepe  admiramur  euntes 
Torquibus  in  rigidis  et  pelle  Libystidis  ursse; 
Admiramur  opusj  tunicas,  vestemquel]  sororem 
Iridis,  et  crurum  non  enarrabile  tegmen. 


*  Mortis.  Verbum  general!  fere  sensu  dictum  invent  Suspicor 
autem  poetam  virum  quendam  innuisse,  qui  currus,  caballos,  id  genua 
omne,  mercede  non  minima  locaret. 

t  aliena  quadrd.  Sunt  qui  de  pileis  Academicis  accipiunt.  Rapi- 
diores  enim  suas  fere  amittebant.  Sed  judicet  sibi  lector. 

$  opus  tunicas,  '  shirt-work.'    AliJ  opes,    Perperam. 

||  vestem.  Nota  proprietatem  verbi.  'Vest,'  enim  aptid  politos  id. 
q.  vulgo  'waistcoat'  appellatur.  Quod  et  feminae  usurpabant,  ut 
hodiernae,  fibula  revinctum,  teste  Virgilio : 

'crines  nodantur  in  aurum, 
Aurea  purpuream  subnectit  fibula  vestem.' 


1 46  CARMEN  SECULARS. 

Hos  inter  comites  implebat  pocula  sorbis 
Infelix  puer,  et  sese  recreabat  ad  ignem, 
"  EVOE,  *BASSE,"  fremens :  dum  velox  prgeterit  setas ; 
Venit  summa  dies;   et  Junior  Optimus  exit. 

Saucius  at  juvenis  nota  intra  tecta  refugit, 
Horrendum  ridens,  lucemque  miserrimus  odit: 
Informem  famulus,  laqueum  pendentiaque  ossa 
Mane  videt,  refugitque  feri  meminisse  magistri. 

Di  nobis  meliora!     Modum  re  servat  in  omni 
Qui  sapit :  baud  ilium  semper  recubare  sub  umbra, 
Haud  semper  madidis  juvat  impallescere  chartis. 
!Nos  numerus  sumus,  et  Hbros  consumere  nati; 
Sed  requies  sit  rebus;   amant  alterna  Camenge. 
Nocte  dieque  legas,  cum  tertius  advenit  annus: 
Turn  libros  cape ;   claude  fores,  et  prandia  defer. 
Quartus  venit :    ini,f  rebus  jam  rite  paratis, 
Exultans,  et  coge  graduni  conferre  magistros. 

«  Basse,  eft.  Interpretes  illud  Horatiannm,  "Bassum  Threicia 
vincat  amystide."  Non  perspexere  viri  docti  alterum  hie  alludi,  An- 
glicanae  originis,  neque  ilium,  ut  perMbent,  a  potu  aversum. 

t  Int.    Sic  nostri,  '  Go  in  and  win.'    rebus,  '  subjects.' 


CARMEN  SJECULARR  147 

His  animadversis,  fugies  immane  Barathrum. 
His,  operose  puer,  si  qua  fata  aspera  rumpas, 
Tu  rixator  eris.     Saltern  non  crebra  revises 
4d  stabulum,*  et  tota  moerens  carpere  juventa; 
Classe  nee  amisso  nil  profectura  dolentem 
Tradet  ludibriis  te  plena  leporis 


*  crebra  r.  a.  ttabulum.  "Turn  up  year  after  year  at  the  old 
diggings,  (t.  e.  the  Senate  House,)  and  be  plucked,"  etc.  Peile.  Quo 
quid  jejunius  ? 

t  Classe— Hirudo.  Ohscurior  allusio  ad  picturam  quandam  (in  col- 
lectione  viri,  vel  plusquam  viri,  Punchii  repositam,)  in  qua  juvenis 
custodem  stationis  mcereus  alloquitur. 


TRANSLATIONS  FROM  HORACE, 

TO  A  SHIP. 

OD.  i.  14. 

V'ET  on  fresh  billows  seaward  wilt  thou  ride, 
0  ship  ?    What  dost  thou  ?    Seek  a  haven,  and  there 
Rest  thee:   for  lo!   thy  side 
Is  oarless  all  and  bare, 

And  the  swift  south-west  wind  hath  maimed  thy 

mast, 

And  thy  yards  creak,  and,  every  cable  lost, 
Yield  must  thy  keel  at  last 
On  tyrannous  sea-waves  tossed 


TO  A  SHIP.  149 

Too  rudely.     Goodly  canvas  is  not  thine, 
Nor  gods,  to  hear  thee,  when  thy  need  is  sorest: — 
Though  thou — a  Pontic  pine, 
Child  of  a  stately  forest — 

Boast'st  race  and  idle  name,  yet  little  trust 
The  frightened  seamen  to  the  gaudy  sail : 
Stay — or  become  thou  must 
The  sport  of  every  gale. 

Flee — what  of  late  sore  burden  was  to  me, 
Now  a  sad  memory  and  a  bitter  pain, — 
Those  shining  Cyclads  flee 
That  stud  the  far-off  main. 


150          TRANSLA  TIONS  FROM  HORACE. 


TO  VIRGIL. 

OD.  i.  24. 

TTNSHAMED,  unchecked,  for  one  so  dear 
We  sorrow.  Lead  the  mournful  choir, 
Melpomene,  to  whom  thy  sire 

Gave  harp,  and  song-notes  liquid-clear! 

Sleeps  He  the  sleep  that  knows  no  morn? 
Oh  Honour,  oh  twin-born  with  Eight, 
Pure  Faith,  and  Truth  that  loves  the  light, 

When  shall  again  his  like  be  born  ? 

Many  a  kind  heart  for  Him  makes  moan; 
Thine,  Virgil,  first.  But  ah!  in  vain 
Thy  love  bids  Heaven  restore  again 

That  which  it  took  not  as  a  loan: 


TO  Vimil.  151 

Were  sweeter  lute  than  Orpheus  given 
To  thee,  did  trees  thy  voice  obey; 
The  blood  revisits  not  the  clay 

Which  He,  with  lifted  wand,  hath  driven 

Into  his  dark  assemblage,  who 

Unlocks  not  fate  to  mortal's  prayer. 

Hard  lot !    Yet  light  their  griefs  who  BEAR 

The  ills  which  they  may  not  undo. 


152  TRANSLATIONS  FROM  HORACE. 


TO  THE  FOUNTAIN  OF  BANDUSIA 

OD.  iii.  13. 

TDAKDTJSIA,  stainless  mirror  of  the  sky! 
Thine  is  the  flower-crown' d  bowl,  for  thee  shall  die, 

When  dawns  yon  sun,  the  kid; 

Whose  horns,  half-seen,  half-hid, 

Challenge  to  dalliance  or  to  strife — in  vain! 
Soon  must  the  darling  of  the  herd  be  slain, 

And  those  cold  springs  of  thine 

With  blood  incarnadine. 

Fierce  glows  the  Dog-star,  but  his  fiery  beam 
Toucheth  not  thee:   still  grateful  thy  cool  stream 

To  labour-wearied  ox, 

Or  wanderer  from  the  fiocks: 


TO  THE  FOUNTAIN  OF  BANDUSIA.        153 

And  henceforth  thou  shalt  be  a  royal  fountain: 
My  harp  shall  tell  how  from  yon  cavernous  mountain, 

Topt  by  the  brown  oak-tree, 

Thou  breakest  babblingly. 


154  TRANSLATIONS  I&OM  HOBAGK 


SOEACTE. 


/"\NE  dazzling  mass  of  solid  -snow 

Soracte  stands;  the  bent  woods  fret 
Beneath  their  load;  and,  sharpest-set 

With  frost,  the  streams  have  ceased  to  flow. 

Pile  on  great  faggots  and  break  up 
The  ice:   let  influence  more  benign 
Enter  with  four-years-treasured  wine, 

Fetched  in  the  ponderous  Sabine  cup: 

Leave  to  the  Gods  all  else.    When  they 
Have  once  bid  rest  the  winds  that  war 
Over  the  passionate  seas,  no  more 

Gray  ash  and  cypress  rock  and  sway. 


80RACTE.  155 

Ask  not  what  future  suns  shall  bring: 
Count  to-day  gain,  whate'er  it  chance 
To  be:   nor,  young  man,  scorn  the  dance, 

Nor  deem  sweet  Love  an  idle  thing, 

Ere  Time  thy  April  youth  had  changed 
To  sourness.    Park  and  public  walk 
Attract  thee  now,  and  whispered  talk 

At  twilight  meetings  pre-arranged; 

Hear  how  the  pretty  laugh  that  tells 
In  what  dim  corner  lurks  thy  love; 
And  snatch  a  bracelet  or  a  glove 

From  wrist  or  hand  that  scarce  rebels. 


156          TRANSLATIONS  FROM  HORACE. 
TO  LEUCONOE. 

OD.  i.  11. 

OEEK  not,  for  thou  shalt  not  find  it,  what  my 

end,  what  thine  shall  be; 
Ask  not  of  Chaldsea's  science  what   God   wills, 

Leuconoe : 
Better  far,  what  conies,  to  bear  it.    Haply  many 

a  wintry  blast 
Waits  thee  still ;  and  this,  it  may  be,  Jove  ordains 

to  be  thy  last, 
Which  flings  now  the  flagging  sea-wave  on  the 

obstinate  sandstone-reef. 
Be  thou  wise:   fill  up  the  wine-cup;   shortening, 

since  the  time  is  brief, 
Hopes  that  reach  into  the  future.     While  I  speak, 

hath  stol'n  away 
Jealous    Time.      Mistrust   To-morrow,    catch   the 

blossom  of  To-day. 


JUN&S  SPEECH.  157 


JUNO'S  SPEECH. 

OD.  iii.  3. 

rpHE  just  man's  single-purposed  mind 

Not  furious  mobs  that  prompt  to  ill 

May  move,  nor  kings'  frowns  shake  his  will 

Which  is  as  rockj  not  warrior  winds 

That  keep  the  seas  in  wild  unrest; 

Nor  bolt  by  Jove's  own  finger  hurled: 
The  fragments  of  a  shivered  world 

Would  crash  round  him  still  self-possest. 

Jove's  wandering  son  reached,  thus  endowed, 
The  fiery  bastions  of  the  skies ; 

Thus  Pollux;   with  them  Ca3sar  lies 
Beside  his  nectar,  radiant-browed. 


158  TRANSLATIONS  FROM  HORACE. 

For  this  rewarded,  tiger-drawn 

Rode  Bacchus,  reining  necks  before 
Untamed;  for  this  War's  horses  bore 

Quirinus  up  from  Acheron. 

To  the  pleased  gods  had  Juno  said, 

In  conclave:    "Troy  is  in  the  dust; 
Troy,  by  a  judge  accursed,  unjust, 

And  that  strange  woman  prostrated. 

"The  day  Laomedon  ignored 

His  god-pledged  word,  resigned  to  me 
And  Pallas  ever  pure  was  she, 

Her  people,  and  their  traitor  lord. 

"No  more  the  Greek  girl's  guilty  guest 

Sits  splendour-girt :    Priam's  perjured  sons 
Find  not  against  the  mighty  ones 

Of  Greece  a  shield  in  Hector's  breast; 


JUNffS  SPEECH.  159 

"And,  long  drawn  out  by  private  jars, 

The  war  sleeps.    Lo !  my  wrath  is  o'er : 
And  him  the  Trojan  vestal  bore 

(Sprung  of  that  hated  line)  to  Mars, 

"To  Mars  restore  I.    His  be  rest 

In  halls  of  light:   by  him  be  drained 
The  nectar-bowl,  his  place  obtained 

In  the  calm  companies  of  the  blest. 

"While  betwixt  Eome  and  Ilion  raves 

A  length  of  ocean,  where  they  will 
Rise  empires  for  the  exiles  still: 

While  Paris's  and  Priam's  graves 

"Are  trod  by  kine,  and  wild-beasts  breed 
Securely  there;   unharmed  shall  stand 
Rome's  lustrous  Capitol,  her  hand 

Curb  with  proud  laws  the  trampled  Mede. 


1 60  TRANSLA  TIONS  FROM  BORA  OS. 

11  Wide-feared,  to  far-off  climes  be  borne 
Her  story;   where  the  central  main 
Eui'ope  and  Libya  parts  in  twain, 

Where  full  Kile  laves  a  land  of  corn: 

"  The  buried  secret  of  the  mine 

(Best  left  there)  resolute  to  spurn, 
Not  unto  man's  base  use  fo  turn, 

Profane  hands  laying  on  things  divine. 

"  Earth's  utmost  end,  where'er  it  be, 

May  her  hosts  reach;   careering  proud 
O'er  lands  where  watery  rain  and  cloud, 

Or  where  wild  suns  hold  revelry. 

"But,  to  the  warriors  of  Rome, 

Tied  by  this  law,  such  fates  are  willed; 

That  they  seek  never  to  rebuild, 
Too  fond,  too  bold,  their  grandsires'  home. 


JUNO'S  SPEECH.  161 

"With  darkest  omens,  deadliest  strife, 

Shall  Troy,  raised  up  again,  repeat 
Her  history;   I  the  victor-fleet 

Shall  lead,  Jove's  sister  and  his  wife. 

"Thrice  let  Apollo  rear  the  wall 

Of  brass;   and  thrice  my  Greeks  shall  hew 
The  fabric  down;    thrice  matrons  rue 

In  chains  their  sons',  their  husbands'  fall." 

Ill  my  light  lyre  such  notes  beseem. 

Stay,  Muse;   nor,  wayward  still,  rehearse 
The  speech  of  Gods  in  puny  verse 

That  may  but  mar  a  mighty  theme. 


1 62  TRANSLA  TIONS  FROM  HOE  A  CE. 


TO  A   FAUN. 

OD.  iii.  18. 

TI700ER  of  young  Nymphs  who  fly  thee, 

Lightly  o'er  my  sunlit  lawn 
Trip,  and  go,  nor  injured  by  thee 

Be  nay  weanling  herds,  0  Faun: 

If  the  kid  his  doomed  head  bows,  and 
Brims  with  wine  the  loving  cup, 

When  the  year  is  full;   and  thousand 
Scents  from  altars  hoar  go  up. 

Each  flock  in  the  rich  grass  gambols 
When  the  month  comes  which  is  thine; 

And  the  happy  village  rambles 
Fieldward  with  the  idle  kine: 


TO  A  FAUN.  163 

Lambs  play  on,  the  wolf  their  neighbour: 
"Wild  woods  deck  thee  with  their  spoil ; 

And  with  glee  the  sons  of  labour 
Stamp  upon  their  foe,  the  soil. 


164  TRANSLATIONS  FROM  HORACE. 


TO  LYCE. 

OD.  iv.  IS, 

YCE,  the  Gods  have  listened  to  my  prayer; 
The  Gods  have  listened,  Lyce.     Thou  art  gray, 
And  still  would' st  thou  seem  fair; 
Still  unshamed  drink,  and  play, 

And,  wine-flushed,  woo  slow- answering  Love  with 

weak 

Shrill  pipings.     With  young  Chia  he  doth  dwell, 
Queen  of  the  harp :    her  cheek 

Is  his  sweet  citadel: — 

He  marked  the  withered  oak,  and  on  he  flew 
Intolerant;    shrank  from  Lyce  grim  and  wrinkled, 
Whose  teeth  are  ghastly-blue, 

Whose  temples  snow-besprinkled:— 


TO  LYCE.  165 

Not  purple,  not  the  brightest  gem  that  glows, 
Brings  back  to  her  the  years  which,  fleeting  fast, 
Time  hath  once  shut  in  those 
Dark  annals  of  the  Past. 

Oh,  where  is  all  thy  loveliness?  soft  hue 
And  motions  soft?    Oh,  what  of  Her  doth  rest, 
Her,  who  breathed  love,  who  drew 
My  heart  out  of  my  breast? 

Fair,  and  far-famed,  and  subtly  sweet,  thy  face 
Banked  next  to  Cinara's.     But  to  Cinara  fate 
Gave  but  a  few  years*  grace; 
And  lets  live,  all  too  late, 

Lyce,  the  rival  of  the  beldam  crow: 
That  fiery  youth  may  see  with  scornful  brow 
The  torch  that  long  ago 
Beamed  bright,  a  cinder  now. 


166  TRANS  LA  TIONS  IROM  HORA  CE. 


TO  HIS  SLAVE. 

OD.  i.  38. 

PERSIAN"  grandeur  I  abhor; 
Linden- wreathed  crowns,  avaunt: 
Boy,  I  bid  thee  not  explore 
Woods  which  latest  roses  haunt: 

Try  on  nought  thy  busy  craft 
Save  plain  myrtle;   so  arrayed 
Thou  shalt  fecch,  I  drain,  the  draught 
Fitliest  'neath  the  scant  vine-shade. 


THE  LEAD  OX.  167 


FEOM   VIRGIL. 

THE  DEAD  OX. 

GEOKG.  iv. 

T  0!  smoking  in  the  stubborn  plough,  the  ox 
Falls,  from  his  lip  foam  gushing  crimson-stained, 
And  sobs  his  life  out.     Sad  of  face  the  swain 
Moves,  disentangling  from  his  comrade's  corpse 
The  lone  survivor:   and  its  work  half-done, 
Abandoned  in  the  furrow  stands  the  plough. 
Not  shadiest  forest-depths,  not  softest  lawns, 
May  move  him  now:   not  river  amber-pure, 
That  rolls  from  crag  to  crag  unto  the  plain. 
Powerless  the  broad  sides,  glazed  the  rayless  eye, 
And  low  and  lower  sinks  the  ponderous  neck. 
What  thank  hath  he  for  all  the  toil  he  toiled, 
The  heavy-clodded  land  in  man's  behoof 


168  TRANSLATIONS  FROM  VIRGIL. 

Upturning?    Yet  the  grape  of  Italy, 
The  stored-up  feast  hath  wrought  no  harm  to  him: 
Green  leaf  and  taintless  grass  are  all  their  fare; 
The  clear  rill  or  the  travel-freshen' d  stream 
Their  cup:   nor  one  care  mars  their  honest  sleep. 


TEE  GOATHERD.  169 

FROM  THEOCRITUS. 

THE  GOATHERD. 

IDYLL  VJL 

CCARCE  midway  were  we  yet,  nor  yet  descried 
The  stone  that  hides  what  once  was  Brasidas: 
When  there  drew  near  a  wayfarer  from  Crete, 
Young  Lycidas,  the  Muses'  votary. 
The  horned  herd  was  his  care :   a  glance  might  tell 
So  much:   for  every  inch  a  herdsman  he. 
Slung  o'er  his  shoulder  was  a  ruddy  hide 
Torn  from  a  he-goat,  shaggy,  tangle-haired, 
That  reeked  of  rennet  yet:   a  broad  belt  clasped 
A  patched  cloak  round  his  breast,  and  for  a  staff 
A  gnarled  wild-olive  bough  his  right  hand  bore. 
Soon  with  a  quiet  smile  he  spoke — his  eye 
Twinkled,  and  laughter  sat  upon  his  lip : 
"And  whither  ploddest  thou  thy  weary  way 


1 70         TRANSLATION  FROM  THEOCRITUS. 

Beneath  the  noontide  sun,  Simichides? 

For  now  the  lizard  sleeps  upon  the  wall, 

The  crested  lark  hath  closed  his  wandering  wing. 

Speed'st  thou,  a  bidden  guest,  to  some  reveller's 

board? 

Or  townward,  to  the  treading  of  the  grape  ? 
For  lo!  recoiling  from  thy  hurrying  feet 
The  pavement-stones  ring  out  right  merrily." 


SPEECH  OF  AJAX.  171 


FROM  SOPHOCLES. 

SPEECH  OF  AJAX. 

SOPH.  Aj.  645. 

A  LL  strangest  things  the  multitudinous  years 
Bring  forth,  and  shadow  from  us  all  we  know. 
Falter  alike  great  oath  and  steeled  resolve; 
And  none  shall  say  of  aught,  'This  may  not  be.' 
Lo!    I  myself,  but  yesterday  so  strong, 
As  new-dipt  steel  am  weak  and  all  unsexed 
By  yonder  woman:   yea  I  mourn  for  them, 
Widow  and  orphan,  left  amid  their  foes. 
But  I  will  journey  seaward — where  the  shore 
Lies  meadow-fringed — so  haply  wash  away 
My  sin,  and  flee  that  wrath  that  weighs  me  down, 
And,  lighting  somewhere  on  an  untrodden  way, 
I  will  bury  this  my  lance,  this  hateful  thing, 
Deep  in  some  earth-hole  where  no  eye  shall  see — 


172          TRANSLATION  FROM  SOPHOCLES. 

Night  and  Hell  keep  it  in  the  underworld  ! 
For  never  to  this  day,  since  first  I  grasped 
The  gift  that  Hector  gave,  my  bitterest  foe, 
Have  I  reaped  aught  of  honour  from  the  Greeks. 
So  true  that  byword  in  the  mouths  of  men, 
"A  foeman's  gifts  are  no  gifts,  but  a  curse." 

Wherefore  henceforward  shall  I  know  that  God 
Is  great;   and  strive  to  honour  Atreus'  sons. 
Princes  they  are,  and  should  be  obeyed.    How  else  ? 
Do  not  all  terrible  and  most  puissant  things 
Yet  bow  to  loftier  majesties?    The  Winter, 
Who  walks  forth  scattering  snows,  gives  place  anon 
To  fruitage-laden  Summer;    and  the  orb 
Of  weary  Night  doth  in  her  turn  stand  by, 
And  let  shine  out,  with  her  white  steeds,  the  Day : 
Stern  tempest-blasts  at  last  sing  lullaby 
To  groaning  seas :    even  the  arch- tyrant,  Sleep, 
Doth  loose  his  slaves,  not  hold  them   chained  for 
ever. 


SPEECH  OF  AJAX.  173 

And  shall  not  mankind  too  learn  discipline? 
/  know,  of  late  experience  taught,  that  him 
Who  is  my  foe  I  must  but  hate  as  one 
Whom  I  may  yet  call  Friend :  and  him  who  loves 

me 

Will  I  but  serve  and  cherish  as  a  man 
Whose  love  is  not  abiding.     Few  be  they 
Who  reaching  Friendship's  port,  have  there  found 

rest. 

But,  for  these  things,  they  shall  be  well.     Go  thou, 
Lady,  within,  and  there  pray  that  the  Gods 
May  fill  unto  the  full  my  heart's  desire. 
And  ye,  my  mates,  do  unto  me  with  her 
Like  honour :    bid  young  Teucer,  if  he  come, 
To  care  for  me,  but  to  be  your  friend  still. 
For  where  my  way  leads,  thither  I  shall  go: 
Do  ye  my  bidding:    haply  ye  may  hear, 
Though  now  is  my  dark  hour,  that  I  have  peace. 


174  TRANSLATION  FROM 


FEOM  LUCBETIUS. 

BOOK  II. 

OWEET,  when  the  great  sea's  water  is  stirred 
to  his  depths  by  the  storm- winds, 

Standing  ashore  to  descry  one  afar-off  mightily 
struggling : 

Not  that  a  neighbour's  sorrow  to  you  yields  dulcet 
enjoyment; 

But  that  the  sight  hath  a  sweetness,  of  ills  our- 
selves are  exempt  from. 

Sweet  'tis  too  to  behold,  on  a  broad  plain  mustering, 
war-hosts 

Arm  them  for  some  great  battle,  one's  self  un- 
scathed by  the  danger: — 

Yet  still  happier  this: — To  possess,  impregnably 
guarded, 


ZUCRETIUS.  175 

Those  calm  heights  of  the  sages,  which  have  for 

an  origin  "Wisdom; 
Thence  to   survey  our  fellows,  observe  them  this 

way  and  that  way 
"Wander  amidst  Life's  paths,  poor  stragglers  seeking 

a  highway: 
Watch  mind  battle  with  mind,  and  escutcheon  rival 

escutcheon ; 
Gaze  on  that  untold  strife,  which  is  waged  'neath 

the  sun  and  the  starlight, 
Up  as  they  toil  on  the  surface  whereon  rest  Riches 

and  Empire. 
0  race  born  unto  trouble!     0  minds  all  lacking 

of  eyesight ! 
'Neath  what  a  vital  darkness,  amidst  how  terrible 

dangers, 
Move  ye  thro'  this  thing,  Life,  this  fragment !    Fools, 

that  ye  hear  not 
Nature  clamour  aloud  for  the  one  thing  only ;   that, 

all  pain 


176  TRANSLATION  FROM 

Parted  and  past  from  the  Body,  the  Mind  too  bask 

in  a  blissful 

Dream,  all  fear  of  the  future  and  all  anxiety  over ! 
Now,  as  regards  Man's  Body,  a  few  things  only 

are  needful, 
(Few,  tho'  we  sum  up  all,)  to  remove  all  misery 

from  him; 
Aye,  and  to  strew  in  his  path  such  a  lib'ral  carpet 

of  pleasures, 
That    scarce   Nature  herself  would    at  times   ask 

happiness  ampler. 
Statues   of  youth  and   of  beauty   may  not  gleam 

golden  around  him, 
(Each  in  his  right   hand    bearing   a  great    lamp 

lustrously  burning, 
Whence   to   the    midnight   revel  a  light  may  be 

furnished  always) ; 
Silver  may  not  shine  softly,  nor  gold  blaze  bright, 

in  his  mansion, 


LUCRETIUS.  177 

Nor  to  the  noise  of  the  tabret  his  halls  gold-cornice"  d 

echo  :— 
5Tet  still  he,  with  his  fellow,  reposed  on  the  velvety 

greensward, 

Near  to  a  rippling  stream,  by  a  tall  tree  canopied  over, 
Shall,   though   they  lack   great   riches,   enjoy   all 

bodily  pleasure. 
Chiefliest  then,  when  above  them  a  fair  sky  smiles, 

and  the  young  year 
Flings  with  a  bounteous  hand  over   each   green 

meadow  the  wild-flowers: — 
Not  more  quickly  depart  from  his  bosom  fiery  fevers, 
"Who    beneath    crimson    hangings    and    pictures 

cunningly  broidered 
Tosses   about,   than  from   him  who   must  lie   in 

beggarly  raiment. 

Therefore,  since  to  the  Body  avail  not  Eiches, 
avails  not 

K 


1 78  TEANSLA  TION  FROM 

Heraldry's  utmost  boast,  nor  the  pomp  and  the  pride 

of  an  empire; 
Next  shall  you  own,  that  the  Mind  needs  likewise 

nothing  of  these  things. 
Unless — when,  peradventure,  your  armies  over  the 

champaign 
Spread  with  a  stir  and  a  ferment,  and  bid  War's 

image  awaken, 
Or  when  with  stir  and  with  ferment  a  fleet  sails 

forth  upon  Ocean — 
Cowed  before  these  brave  sights,  pale  Superstition 

abandon 
Straightway  your  mind  as  you  gaze,  Death  seem 

no  longer  alarming, 
Trouble  vacate  your  bosom,  and  Peace  hold  holiday 

in  you. 
But,  if  (again)   all  this  be  a  vain  impossible 

fiction ; 
If  of  a  truth  men's  fears,  and  the  cares  which  hourly 

beset  them, 


LUCRETIUS.  179 

Heed  not  the  jav'lin's  fury,  regard  not  clashing  of 

broadswords ; 
But  ail-boldly  amongst  crowned  heads  and  the  rulers 

of  empires 
Stalk,   not  shrinking   abashed  from   the   dazzling 

glare  of  the  red  gold, 
Not  from  the  pomp  of  the  monarch,  who  walks  forth 

purple-apparelled : 
These  things  shew  that  at  times  we  are  bankrupt, 

surely,  of  Reason; 
Think  too  that  all  Man's  life  through  a  great  Dark 

laboureth  onward. 

For,  as  a  young  boy  trembles,  and  in  that  mystery, 

-* 

Darkness, 
Sees  all  terrible  things :  so  do  we  too,  ev'n  in  the 

daylight, 
Ofttimes  shudder  at  that,  which  is  not  more  really 

alarming 
Than  boys'  fears,  when  they  waken,  and  say  some 

danger  is  o'er  them. 


180  TRANSLATION  FROM 

So  this  panic  of  mind,  these  clouds  which  gather 

around  us, 
Fly  not  the  bright  sunbeam,  nor  the  ivory  shafts 

of  the  Day-star : 
Kature,   rightly  revealed,   and   the   Reason    only, 

dispel  them. 

Now,  how  moving  about  do  the  prime  material 

atoms 
Shape  forth  this  thing  and  that  thing;    and,  once 

shaped,  how  they  resolve  them; 
What  power  says  unto  each,   This  must  be;   how 

an  inherent 

Elasticity  drives  them  about  Space  vagrantly  onward ; 
I  shall  unfold :  thou  simply  give  all  thyself  to  my 

teaching. 

Matter    mingled    and    massed   into   indissoluble 
union 


LUCRETIUS.  181 

Does  not  exist.  For  we  see  how  wastes  each 
separate  substance; 

So  flow  piecemeal  away,  with  the  length'ning  cen- 
turies, all  things, 

Till  from  our  eye  by  degrees  that  old  self  passes, 
and  is  not. 

Still  Universal  Nature  abides  unchanged  as  afore- 
time. 

Whereof  this  is  the  cause.  "When  the  atoms  part 
from  a  substance, 

That  suffers  loss ;  but  another  is  elsewhere  gaming 
an  increase: 

So  that,  as  one  thing  wanes,  still  a  second  bursts 
into  blossom, 

Soon,  in  its  turn,  to  be  left.  Thus  draws  this 
Universe  always 

Gain  out  of  loss;  thus  live  we  mortals  one  on 
another. 

Bourgeons  one  generation,  and  one  fades.  Let  but 
a  few  years 


182         TRANSLA TION  FROM  L UCBETIUS. 

Pass,  and  a  race  has  arisen  which  was  not :  as  in 

a  racecourse, 
One   hands   on  to  another  the  burning  torch  of 

Existence. 

«  *  *  *  « 


TRANSLATION  FROM  HOMER.  1 83 


FROM  HOMER. 

17. 1. 

OING,  0  daughter  of  heaven,  of  Peleus'  son,  of 

Achilles, 
Him  whose  terrible  wrath  brought  thousand  woes 

on  Achaia. 

Many  a  stalwart  soul  did  it  hurl  untimely  to  Hades, 
Souls  of  the  heroes  of  old:   and  their  bones  lay 

strown  on  the  sea-sands, 

Prey  to  the  vulture  and  dog.     Yet  was  Zeus  ful- 
filling a  purpose; 
Since  that  far-off  day,  when  in  hot  strife  parted 

asunder 
Atreus'   sceptred  son,   and  the  chos'n  of  heaven, 

Achilles. 
Say  then,  which  of  the  Gods  bid  arise  up  battle 

between  them? 


184  TRANSLATION  FROM 

Zeus's  and  Leto's  son.    "With  the  king  was  kindled 

his  anger: 
Then  went  sickness  abroad,  and  the  people  died 

of  the  sickness : 
For  that  of  Atreus'  son  had  his  priest  been  lightly 

entreated, 
Chryses,  Apollo's  priest.    For  he  came  to  the  ships 

of  Achaia, 
Bearing  a  daughter's  ransom,  a  sum  not  easy  to 

number : 
And  in  his  hand  was  the  emblem  of  Him,  far-darting 

Apollo, 
High  on  a  sceptre  of  gold :  and  he  prayed  to  the 

hosts  of  Achaia ; 
Chiefly  to  Atreus*  sons,  twin  chieftains,  ordering 

armies. 
"  Chiefs  sprung  of  Atreus'  loins;  and  ye,  brazen- 

greaved  Achaians! 
So  may  the  Gods  this  day,  the  Olympus-palaced, 

grant  you 


HOMER.  185 

Priam's  city  to  raze,  and  return  unscathed  to  your 

homesteads : 
Only  my  own  dear  daughter  I  ask;   take  ransom 

and  yield  her, 
Kev'rencing  His  great  name,  son  of  Zeus,  far-darting 

Apollo." 
Then  from  the  host  of  Achaians  arose  tumultuous 

answer : 
"Due  to  the  priest   is   his  honour;    accept  rich 

ransom  and  yield  her." 
But  there  was  war  in  the  spirit  of  Atreus'  son, 

Agamemnon ; 
Disdainful  he  dismissed   him,   a   right  stern   fiat 

appending : — 

"  Woe  be  to  thee,  old  man,  if  I  find  thee  linger- 
ing longer, 
Tea  or  returning  again,  by  the  hollow  ships  of 

Achaians ! 
Scarce  much  then  will  avail  thee  the  great  god's 

sceptre  and  emblem. 


186  TRANSLATION  FROM 

Her  will  I  never  release.     Old  age  must  first  come 

upon  her, 
In  my  own  home,  yea  in  Argos,  afar  from  the  land 

of  her  fathers, 
Following  the  loom,  and  attending  upon  my  bed. 

But  avaunt  thee! 
Go,  and  provoke  not  me,  that  thy  way  may  be  haply 

securer." 
These  were  the  words  of  the  king,  and  the  old 

man  feared  and  obeyed  him: 
Voiceless  he  went  by  the  shore  of  the  great  dull- 
echoing  ocean, 
Thither  he  gat  him  apart,  that  ancient  man;   and 

a  long  prayer 
Prayed  to  Apollo  his  Lord,  son  of  golden-ringleted 

Leto: 
"Lord  of  the  silver  bow,  thou  whose  arm  girds 

Chryse  and  Cilia, — 
Cilia  beloved  of  the  Gods, — and  in  might  sways 

Tenedos,  hearken! 


HOMER.  187 

Oh!  if,  in  days  gone  by,  I  have  built  from  floor 

unto  cornice, 
Smintheus,  a  fair  shrine  for  thee ;  or  burned  in  the 

flames  of  the  altar 
Fat  flesh  of  bulls  and  of  goats ;  then  do  this  thing 

that  I  ask  thee: 
Hurl  on  the  Greeks  thy  shafts,  that  thy  servant's 

tears  be  avenged!" 
So  did  he  pray,  and  his  prayer  reached  the  ears 

of  Phoebus  Apollo. 
Dark  was  the  soul  of  the  god  as  he  moved  from  the 

heights  of  Olympus, 
Shouldering  a  bow,  and  a  quiver  on  this  side  fast 

and  on  that  side. 
Onward  in  anger  he  moved.       And  the  arrows, 

stirred  by  the  motion, 
Battled  and  rang  on  his  shoulder:    he  came   as 

cometh  the  midnight. 


188  TRANSLATION  FROM 

Hard  by  the  ships  he  stayed  him,  and  loosed  one 
shaft  from  the  how-string; 

Harshly  the  stretched  string  twanged  of  the  bow 
all  silvery-shining. 

First  fell  his  wrath  on  the  mules,  and  the  swift- 
footed  hound  of  the  herdsman; 

Afterward  smote  he  the  host.  With  a  rankling 
arrow  he  smote  them 

Aye;  and  the  morn  and  the  even  were  red  with 
the  glare  of  the  corpse-fires. 

Nine  days  over  the  host  sped  the  shafts  of  the 

god:   and  the  tenth  day 
Dawned;   and  Achilles  said,  "Be  a  council  called 

of  the  people." 
(Such  thought  came  to  his  mind  from  the  goddess, 

Hera  the  white-armed, 
Hera  who  loved  those  Greeks,  and  who  saw  them 

dying  around  her.) 


HOMER.  189 

So  when  all  were  collected  and  ranged  in  a  solemn 

assembly, 

Straightway  rose  up  amidst  them  and  spake  swift- 
footed  Achilles: — 
"Atreus'  son!  it  were  better,  I  think  this  day, 

that  we  wandered 
Back,  re-seeking  our  homes,  (if  a  warfare  may  be 

avoided); 
Now  when  the  sword  and  the  plague,  these  two 

things,  fight  with  Achaians. 
Come,  let  us  seek  out  now  some  priest,  some  seer 

amongst  us, 
Yea  or   a  dreamer  of  dreams — for    a   dream   too 

cometh  of  God's  hand — 
Whence  we  may  learn  what  hath  angered  in  this 

wise  Phoebus  Apollo. 
Whether  mayhap  he  reprove  us  of  prayer  or  of 

oxen  unofferedj 


190  TRANSLATION  FROM 

Whether,   accepting  the  incense  of  lambs  and  of 

blemishless  he-goats, 
Yet  it  be  his  high  will  to  remove  this  misery  from 

us." 
Down  sat  the  prince:    he  had  spoken.      And 

uprose  to  them  in  answer 
Kalchas  Thestor's  son,  high  chief  of  the  host  of 

the  augurs. 
"Well  he  knew  what  is  present,  what  will  be,  and 

what  was  aforetime; 
He  into  Ilion's  harbour   had  led  those  ships  of 

Achaia, 
All  by  the  power  of  the  Art,  which  he  gained  from 

Phoebus  Apollo. 
Thus  then,  kindliest-hearted,  arising  spake  he  before 

them: 

"  Peleus'  son !     Thou  demandest,  a  man  heaven- 
fa  vour'd,  an  answer 


HOMER.  191 

Touching  the   Great  King's  wrath,   the   afar-off- 
aiming  Apollo: 
Therefore  I  lift  up  my  voice.    Swear  thou  to  me, 

duly  digesting 
All,—  that  with  right  good  will,  by  word  and  by 

deed,  thou  wilt  aid  me. 
Surely  the  ire  will  awaken  of  one  who  mightily 

ruleth 
Over  the  Argives  all:    and  upon  him  wait   the 

Achaians. 
Aye  is  the  battle  the  king's,  when  the  poor  man 

kindleth  his  anger: 

For,  if  but  this  one  day  he  devour  his  indignation, 
Still  on  the  morrow  abideth  a  rage,  that  its  end 

be  accomplished, 
Deep  in  the  soul  of  the  king.      So  bethink  thee, 

wilt  thou  deliver." 
Then  unto  him  making  answer  arose  swift-footed 

Achilles : 


192  TRANSLATION  FEOM 

"Fearing  naught,  up  and  open  the  god's  will,  all 

that  is  told  thee: 
For  by  Apollo's  self,  heaven's  favourite,  whom  thou, 

Kalchas, 
Serving  aright,  to  the  armies  aloud  God's  oracles 

op'nest : 
None — while  as  yet  I  breathe  upon  earth,  yet  walk 

in  the  daylight—- 
Shall, at  the  hollow  ships,  lift  hand  of  oppression 

against  thee, 
None  out  of  all  your  host — not  and  if  thou  nam'st 

Agamemnon, 
Who  now  sits  in  his  glory,  the  topmost  flower  of 

the  armies." 
Then  did  the   blameless  prophet  at   last   take 

courage  and  answer: 
"  Lo !  He  doth  not  reprove  us  of  prayer  or  of  oxen 

unoffered ; 


HOMER.  193 

But  for  his  servant's  sake,  the  disdained  of  king 

Agamemnon, 
'(In  that  he  loosed  not  his  daughter,  inclined  not 

his  ear  to  a  ransom,) 
Therefore  the  Far-darter  sendeth,  and  yet  shall  send 

on  us,  evil. 
Nor  shall  he  stay  from  the  slaughter  the  hand  that 

is  heavy  upon  you, 
Till  to  her  own  dear  father  the  bright-eyed  maiden 

is  yielded, 
JSTo  price  asked,  no  ransom  j  and  ships  bear  hallowel 

oxen 
Chryse-wards : — then,   it  may  be,   will    he    shew 

mercy  and  hear  us." 

t 

These  words  said,  sat  he  down.      Then  rose  in 

his  place  and  addressed  them 
Atreus'    warrior    son,    Agamemnon    king    of   the 
nations, 

o 


194  TRANSLATION  FROM 

Sore  grieved.    Fury  was  working  in  each  dark  cell 

of  his  bosom. 
And  in  his  eye  was  a  glare  as  a  burning  fiery 

furnace : 
First  to  the  priest  he  addressed  him,  his  whole 

mien  boding  a  mischief. 
" Priest . of  ill  luck!      Never  heard  I  of  aught 

good  from  thee,  but  evil. 
Still  doth  the  evil  thing  unto  thee  seem  sweeter 

of  utt* ranee; 
Leaving  the  thing  which  is  good  all  unspoke,  all 

unaccomplished, 
Lo !  this  day  to  the  people  thou  say'st,  God's  oracles 

op'ning, 
What,  but  that  I  am  the  cause  why  the  god's  hand 

worketh  against  them, 
For  that  in  sooth  I  rejected  a  ransom,  ay  and  a 

rich  one, 


HOMER.  195 

Brought  for  the  girl  Briseis.     I  did.     For  I  chose 

to  possess  her, 
Bather,   at  home:    less  favour  hath  Clytemnestra 

before  me, 

Clytemnestra  my  wife:  unto  her  Briseis  is  equal, 
Equal  in  form  and  in  stature,   in  mind  and  in 

womanly  wisdom. 
Still,  even  thus,  am  I  ready  to  yield  her,  so  it  be 

better : 
Better   is   saving   alive,   I   hold,   than    slaying    a 

nation. 
Meanwhile  deck  me  a  guerdon  in  her  stead,  lest 

of  Achaians 
I  should  alone  lack  honour;  an  unmeet  thing  and 

a  shameful. 
See  all  men,  that  my  guerdon,  I  wot  not  whither 

it  goeth." 
Then    unto    him    made    answer    the    swift-foot 

chieftain  Achilles: 


1 96  TRANSLA  TION  FROM  HOMER. 

"0  most  vaunting  of  men,  most  gain-loving,  off- 
spring of  Atreus! 

How  shall  the  lords  of  Achaia  bestow  fresh  guerdon 
upon  thee? 

Surely  we  know  not  yet  of  a  treasure  piled  in 
abundance ! 

That  which  the  sacking  of  cities  hath  brought  to 
us,  all  hath  an  owner, 

Yea  it  were  all  unfit  that  the  host  make  re- 
distribution. 

Yield  thou  the  maid  to  the  god.  So  threefold 
surely  and  fourfold 

All  we  Greeks  will  requite  thee,  should  that  day 
dawn,  when  the  great  gods 

Grant  that  of  yon  proud  walls  not  one  stone  rest 
on  another." 


198  TRANSLATIONS. 


"COME  LIVE  WITH  ME." 


live  with  me,  and  be  my  love, 
And  we  will  all  the  pleasures  prove 
That  valleys,  groves,  or  hill  or  field, 
Or  woods  or  steepy  mountains  yield. 

And  we  will  sit  upon  the  rocks, 
Seeing  the  shepherds  feed  their  flocks 
By  shallow  rivers,  to  whose  falls 
Melodious  birds  sing  madrigals. 

And  I  will  make  thee  beds  of  roses 
And  a  thousand  fragrant  posies: 
A  gown  made  of  the  finest  wool, 
Which  from  our  pretty  lambs  we'll  pull. 


"ET  NOS  CEDAMUS  AMORL"  199 


"ET  NOS  CEDAMUS  AMORI." 

amantis   amans  laribus  te,   Delia, 
nostris ; 

Buris  ut  innumeras  experiamur  opes: 
Quot  vallis,  juga,  saltus,  ager,  quot  amcena  ministrat 
Mons  gravis  ascensu,  suppositumve  nemus. 

Scilicet  acclines  scopulo  spectare  juvarit 
Ducat  uti  pastum  Thyrsis  herile  pecus, 

Ad  vada  rivonun;   queis  adsilientibus  infra, 
Concordes  avibus  suave  loquantur  aves. 

Ipse  rosas,  queis  fulta  cubes  caput,  ipse  recentum 
Quidquid-alant  florum  pascua  mille,  feram: 

Pro  Isena  tibi  vellus  erit,  neque  tenuior  usquam, 
Me  socio  teneras  quo  spoliaris  oves. 


200  TRANSLATIONS. 

The  shepherd  swains  shall  dance  and  sing 
For  thy  delight  each  May  morning: 
If  these  delights  thy  mind  may  move, 

Come  live  with  me  and  be  my  love. 

MABLOW. 


If  all  the  world  and  love  were  young, 
And  truth  in  every  shepherd's  tongue, 
These  pretty  pleasures  might  me  move 
To  live  with  thee  and  be  thy  love. 

Time  drives  the  flocks  from  field  to  fold, 
When  rivers  rage,  and  rocks  grow  cold; 
And  Philomel  becometh  dumb; 
The  rest  complain  of  cares  to  come. 

But  could  youth  last  and  love  still  breed, 

Had  joys  no  date  nor  age  no  need, 

«• 
Then  these  delights  my  mind  might  move 

To  live  with  thee  and  be  thy  love. 

RALEIGH. 


NOS  CEDAMUS  AMORL"  201 

Cantabunt  salientque  tibi  pastoria  pubes, 
Maia  novum  quoties  jusserit  ire  diem: 

Quae  si  forte  tibi  sint  oblectamina  cordi, 
Te  laribus  nostris  transfer,  amantis  amans. 


Finge  nee  huic  mundo  nee  amoribus  osse  senectam ; 

Pastorumque  labris  usque  subesse  fidem: 
His  ducta  illecebris  (est  his  sua  namque  venustas) 

Delicise  forsan  dicerer  usque  tuae. 

Sed  pecus  it  tandem  campis  in  ovile  relictis; 

Saavit  ubi  fluvius,  saxaque  frigus  habet; 
Cessat  ubi  Philomela  loqui;  stantque  agmina  ramis 

Cetera,  curarum  questa  quod  instat  onus. 

Fac  semper  subolescat  amor  superetque  juventus ; 

Gaudia  fac  careant  fine,  senecta  malis; 
Atque  ego — quam  perhibes  dulcedine  subditapectus — 

Deliciae  tempus  dicar  in  omne  tuse. 


202  TEANSLATIONS. 


"POOR  TREE." 

"DOOR  tree;  a  gentle  mistress  placed  thee  here, 
To  be  the  glory  of  the  glade  around. 

Thy  life  has  not  survived  one  fleeting  year, 
And  she  too  sleeps  beneath  another  mound. 

But  mark  what  differing  terms  your  fates  allow, 
Though  like  the  period  of  your  swift  decay : 

Thine  are  the  sapless  root  and  wither'd  bough; 
Hers  the  green  memory  and  immortal  day. 

CARLISLE. 


FLEBILIS  ARBOR.  203 

FLEBILIS  ABBOR. 
rpE  dominse  pia  cura  solo,  miseranda,  locarat 

Patentis,  arbor,  ut  fores  agri  decus. 
At  mansit  tua  vita  brevem  non  amplius  annum; 

At  ipsa  dormit  extero  sub  aggere. 
Quam  diversa  tamen  sors  est  (adverte)  duarum! 

Fugax  utramque  vexit  hora;    sed  tibi, 
Arbor,  truncus  iners,  frons  arida  restat:   at  illi 

Perenne  lumen  ac  virens  adhuc  amor. 

Idem  aliter  redditum. 
Mollis  'hue  hera  quam  tulit  caducam 

Ut  saltus  decus,  arbor,  emineres, 
Anno  non  superas  brevi  peracto; 

At  cespes  procul  ambit  arctus  illam. 
Pares  funere  (dispares  esedem 

Quanto  discite)  marcuistis  ambse. 
Frons  restat  tibi  passa,  sicca  radix; 

Illi  lux  nova  jugiter  virenti. 


204         HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODEBN. 


The  five  following  translations  were  made  for 
11  Hymns  Ancient  and  Modern,  with  some  Metri- 
cal Translations"  etc., published  1867. 


XLIV.— CHRISTMAS. 

T  ANIGEROS,  acclinis  humo,  pastoria  pubes 

Custodiebat  dum  greges; 
Splendescente  polo  longe  lateque,  Jehovae 

Descendit  ales  nuncius. 

Qui  "Quid"  ait  "tremitis" — namque  anxia  pectora 
terror 

Immanis  occupaverat — 
"Grata  fero:   magnum  jubeo  laetarier  et  vos 

Et  quicquid  est  mortalium. 
Namque  in  Davidis  urbe,  satus  quoque  Davidis  idem 

E  stirpe,  jamjam  nascitur 
Vestra  Salus,  Dominus  vester,  cognomine  Christus; 

Signoque  vobis  hoc  erit: 


HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN.         205 

Invenietur  ibi  cselestis  scilicet  Infans, 

Spectabiturque  jam  viris; 
Fascia  velarit  meritum  non  talia  corpus, 

Condente  prsesepi  caput." 
Dixerat  ales.     Eo  simul  apparere  videres 

Dicente  lucentem  chorum 
Arce  profectorum  supera;   pseanaque  Isetum 

His  ordiebantur  modis: 
"Qui  colit  alta  Deo  summi  tribuantur  honores, 

Virisque  pax  arrideat; 
Protenus  excipiat  caeli  indulgentia  terras, 

Haud  dirimenda  sseculis." 


206         HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN. 


cxxx,— PENTECOST. 

CIMLQ  profecti  vis  et  ira  nuntiae 

Fuere  quondam  Numinis: 
Nimbos  secantis  pedibus;   instar  ignium 

Hac  parte,  nigros  altera. 
At  prodeunti  vis  amorque  denuo 

Ibant  ministri;   mollius 
Sacer  Palumbes  dimovebat  aera 

Quam  mane  primo  flamina. 
Quot  occuparant  impetu  flammae  fero 

Arcem  Sinai,  suaviter 
Tot  consecratum  nunc  in  omne  defluunt 

Caput,  corona  nobilis. 
Ac  vox  uti  prsegrandis  arrectas  metu, 

Ut  clangor  aures  perculit, 
(CsBlestium  quo  costus  audito  tremunt,) 

E  nocte  trepidans  nubium; 


HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN.         207 

Sic  prodeunte  Spiritu  Dei  suos, 

Ut  pastor,  inventum  greges, 
Late  sonabat  vox,  profecta  caelitus, 

Tumultuosi  turbinis. 
Templum  Jehovse  qua,  scatetque  criminum 

Fecundus  orbis  undique; 
In  pervicaci  scilicet  demum  sinu 

Desideratum  locum. 
Hue,  Numen  adsis!   Vis,  Amor,  Prudentia, 

Adsis  ut  aures  audiant; 
Bene  ominatum  quisque  captet  ut  diem 

Amore  sospes  on  meto. 


208          HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN. 


cxxxix. 

r\TJI  pretium  nostraD  vitam  dedit,  ante  '  Supremum 

Valete'  quam  vix  edidit, 
Solamenque  Ducemque  viris  legarat  eundem, 

Quo  contubernales  forent. 
Venit  at  Ille  suas  partem  dulcedinis  ultro 

Ut  hospes  efflaret  bonus, 
Cactus  ubi  semel  esset,  amat  qua  sede  morari, 

Casti  latebras  pectoris. 
Hinc  ilia?  audita?  voces,  qualemque  susurrum 

Kascente  captes  Vespero; 
Quo  posuere  metus,  patitur  quo  frena  libido, 

Spirare  viso  c^litus. 
Ac  virtutis  inest  si  quid  tibi,  si  quid  honorum 

Claro  triumphis  contigit; 
Venerit  in  mentem  si  quid  divinius  unquamj 

Hsec  muneris  sunt  Illius. 


HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN.          209 

At  candens,  at  mite  veni  mine,  Numen,  opemque 

Nostrae  fer  impotentise ; 
Cor  nunc  omne  domus  pateat  tua;    feceris  omne 

Cor  incola  te  dignius. 
Yosque  Patrem,  Natum  vos  tollite;   neve  recuses 

Tu  sancte  laudem  Spiritus: 
Dignus  enim  tolli,  Tria  qui  Dens  audit  in  Uno, 

Unumve  malit  in  Tribus. 


210         HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN. 


cxcvn. 


AUXILIUM  quondam,   mine  spes,   Deus,  unica 
nostri  ; 

Flaute  noto  portus,  praeteritoque  domus: 
Gens  habitat  secura  tuae  tua  sedis  in  umbra; 

Simus  ut  incolumes  efficit  una  manus. 
Terrae  olim  neque  forma  fuit  neque  collibus  ordo: 

Tu,  quot  eunt  anni,  numen  es  unus  idem. 
Sascla  vides  abiisse,  fugax  ut  vesper;   ut  actis 

Quae  tenebris  reducem  prorogat  hora  diem. 
*Stant  populi,  ceu  mane  novo  juga  florea,  quorum 

Marcidus  ad  noctem  falce  jacebit  honos: 
*Tu  "suboles  terrena,  redi"  nee  plura  locuto, 

Quippe  satae  gentes  pulvere  pulvis  erunt. 
Quos  genuit,  secum  rotat  usque  volubilis  aetas; 

LTt  sopor  in  cassum,  luce  solutus,  eunt. 


HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN.          211 

Tu   quondam   auxilium,    spes   mine,    Dins,   ultima 

nostri, 
Sis  columen  trepidis,  emeritisque  domus. 


*  Two  stanzas  are  translated  here  which  do  not  appear  in  the  re- 
ceived editions  of  Hymns  Ancient  and  Modern.  They  are  quoted  as 
part  of  this  hymn  by  Miss  Bront6  in  Shirley,  and  run  as  follows : 

"Thy  word  commands  our  flesh  to  dust— 

'  Return,  ye  sons  of  men ;' 
All  nations  rose  from  earth  at  first, 
And  turn  to  earth  again. 

"Like  flowery  fields  the  nations  stand, 

Fresh  in  the  morning  light ; 
The  flowers  beneath  the  mower's  hand 
Lie  withering  ere  'tis  night!" 

Possibly  Miss  Bronte"  quoted  from  memory,  and  the  true  version  of 
the  first  stanza  may  be— 

All  nations  rose  from  earth,  and  must 
Return  to  earth  again. 


212          HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN. 


OQXKi 

/AUO  chaos  ac  tenebrae  quondam  fugere  locuto, 

•Supplicis,  Ornnipotens,  accipe  vota  chori: 
Quaque  jubar  nondum  micuit  quod  sole,  quod  astris 

Claiius  est,  dicas  "Exoriare  dies!" 
Q,ui  dignatus  eras  descendere  more  sequestri 

Alitis  ad  terrain,  luxque  salusque  virum; 
^Egro  mente  salus,  lux  interioris  egeno 

Luminis:   at  toto  jam  sit  in  orbe  dies! 
"nde  fides,  amor  unde  venit;    qui  Spiritus  audis; 

Carpe,  dator  vita3,  sancte  Palumbes,  iter: 
Incubet  setherios  spargens  tua  forma  nitores 

Fluctubus,  ut  terra  lustret  opaca  dies! 
Quique,  Triplex,  splendes  tamen  integer;  ipse  vicissim 

Robur,  Amor,  Virtus;   usque  beate  Deus: 
Q,uale  superbit  aquis  indignaturque  teneri 

Fine  carens  pelagus,  crescat  ubique  dies! 


E  YMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN.          213 


CCXLII.— DEDICATION  OF  A  CHUECH. 

"\7EEBUM  superni  Numinis 

Qui  cuncta  comples,  hanc  domum 

Amore  certo  consecres 

Et  feriatis  annuas. 

E  fonte  pueros  hoc  fluit 

In  criminosos  gratia; 

Beata  cogit  unctio 

Nitere  nuper  sordidos. 

Hie  Christus  animis  dat  cibo 

Corpus  suum  fidelibus; 

Cselestis  agnus  proprii 

Fert  ipse  calycem  sanguinis. 

Hinc  venia  mosstis  ac  salus 

Eeis  emenda;    dum  favet 

Judex,  et  ingens  gratia 

Scelere  sepultos  integrat. 


214         HYMNS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN. 

Hie,  regnat  alte  qui  Deus, 
Benignus  habitat;   hie  pium 
Pectus  gubernat  atria 
Desiderantum  caelica 
In  dedicatam  trux  domum. 
Procella  nequidquam   furit; 
Atrox  eo  vis  Tartari 
Passura  fertur  dedecus. 

At  robur,  at  laus  tibi,  Pater, 

Sit  comparique  Filio; 

Diique  amoris  vinculo, 

Dam  sa3cla  currunt,  Flamini. 


J.  PALMER,   PRINTER,    CAMBRIDGE. 


By  the  same  Author. 

SIXTH  EDITION,  Price  js. 
VERSES  AND   TRANSLATIONS. 

"  They  bear  the  impress  of  Cambridge  on  almost  every  page  ....  Comic 
recollections  of  childhood,  much  in  the  vein  of  the  older  Hood,  acrostics, 
parodies,  charades,  odes  to  tobacco  and  imitations  of  M.  Tupper,  Latin  verse 
of  no  common  merit,  and  really  skilful  translations  from  the  Classics  are  found 
in  this  lively  volume." — GUARDIAN. 

"We  were  surprised  by  the  little  book  into  laughter,  and  charmed  by  its 
whimsical  grace  or  grotesque  suggestions  now  and  then  running  into  lines  hardly 
surpassed  in  their  way  since  the  days  of  Thomas  Hood." — EXAMINER. 

"  A  little  volume  full  of  exceeding  great  promise  ...  C.  S.  C.  possesses  many 
of  the  highest  attributes  of  a  versifier  ....  It  needs  no  gift  of  second  sight  to 
foretel  that  C.  S.  C.  will  again  be  heard  of." — SPECTATOR. 

SIXTH  THOUSAND,  Price  3$.  6d. 
FLY  LEAVES. 

"  One  who  can  write  so  well  himself  is  in  no  danger  of  being  thought  to  hold 
great  poets  in  too  light  esteem  ;  so  we  laugh  with  him,  and  do  not  feel  that  sense 
of  irreverence,  coupled  with  a  suspicion  of  bad  taste,  which  the  ordinary  parodist 
produces." — ATHENAEUM. 

"  It  would  not  be  easy  certainly  to  name  any  one  who  has  a  greater  skill  in 
versification  who  can  write  with  more  melodious  smoothness,  or  who  seems  more 
perfectly  at  ease  in  the  matter  of  rhyme." — SPECTATOR. 

"The  author  of  '  Fly  Leaves'  is  a  poet  after  Praed's  own  heart.  He  is  so 
like  Praed  in  style  that  we  could  almost  fancy  ourselves  to  be  reading  the  latter." 
.—BIRMINGHAM  DAILY  MAIL. 

"  This  is  a  witty  pleasant  little  volume  that  would  do  no  dishonour  to  Horace 
Smith  or  Mackworth  Praed.  Even  in  '  Rejected  Addresses,'  hitherto  unrivalled 
in  the  realm  of  parody,  there  is  scarcely  a  better  imitation  than  the  description 
of  a  travelling  tinker  after  the  manner  of  Tennyson." — INVERNESS  COURIER. 

"  It  strikes  us  it  is  long  since  a  book  containing  so  much  genuine  fun,  pure 
parody,  and  good  natured  satire  has  been  given  to  the  public." — CAMBRIDGE 
CHRONICLE. 

"  C.  S.  C.,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  a  lively  volume  of  verse,  and  who  is 
favourably  known  to  critics  as  the  author  of  '  Verses  and  Translations,'  possesses 

to  a  certain  degree  the  facility  of  Praed There  is  a  freshness  and  vivacity 

in  this  little  volume  which  makes  it  a  very  acceptable  one." — MORNING  POST. 

"'Fly  Leaves'  form  a  not  unworthy  companion  to  the  'Verses  and  Transla- 
tions' which  have  furnished  us,  and,  no  doubt,  many  of  our  readers,  so  much 
food  for  laughter."— JOHN  BULL. 


FLY  LEAVES— continued. 

"Those  who  remember  'Verses  and  Translations,'  which  we  are  glad  to  see 
has  reached  a  fourth  edition,  will  welcome  the  appearance  of  the  present  volume 
There  is  the  playful  humour  and  genial  fun,  and  the  art  is,  if  possible,  more 
perfect." — PALL  MALL  GAZETTE. 

"  What  to  do  critically  with  the  '  Fly  Leaves'  of  C.S.C.  we  really  do  not  know 
Mr.  Calverley  is  clever  enough  for  the  society  of  the  nine  muses  and  all  their 
devotees ;  but  then  he  rejoices  in  parody,  has  a  hearty  laugh  at  the  expense  of 
sentiment,  and,  instead  of  treating  contemporary  genius  with  due  respect,  gives 
it  a  familiar  nudge,  and  encourages  the  Poet  Laureate  to  laugh  at  Mr.  Browning, 
and  the  author  of  'The  Cock  and  the  Bull'  (we  beg  pardon  for  being  misled  by 
bad  example — it  should  be  'The  Ring  and  the  Book')  to  laugh  at  Mr.  Tennyson. 
On  the  whole,  C.  S.  C.  is  safest  in  a  paragraph  by  himself." — GUARDIAN. 


Price  7s.  6d. 
TRANSLATIONS  INTO    ENGLISH  AND   LATIN. 

"Mr.  Calverley  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  most  skilful  composers  of  his 
University ;  and  what  he  has  published  here  will  bear  comparison  with  most,  if 
not  all,  of  the  feats  of  Latin  composition  which  have  been  achieved  of  late  years 
by  English  scholars." — ATHENAEUM. 

"This  is  a  charming  volume  which  deserves  the  attention  of  all  scholars."— 
SPECTATOR. 

"  He  is  scholarlike,  accurate,  suggestive ;  but  rarest  gift  of  all,  he  is  never 
dull.  His  versions  of  Virgil's  Eclogues,  and  of  the  two  first  books  of  the  Iliad, 
are  of  quite  remarkable  excellence — so  literal,  yet  so  full  of  movement  and  in 
dividual  characters." — GUARDIAN 

Price  ?s.  6d. 
THEOCRITUS  TRANSLATED  INTO  ENGLISH  VERSE. 

"His  playfulness,  his  control  of  language,  his  accurate  scholarship,  and 
his  keen  sense  of  effective  points,  are  very  conspicuous  in  his  Translation  of 
Theocritus." — GUARDIAN. 

"  As  we  turn  over  his  pages  we  meet  at  odd  corners  little  features  and  touches 
that  remind  us  of  his  earlier  Poems  and  Translations,  and  recognize  sparkles  of 
the  same  happy  humour  and  perception  which  at  once  gave  him  a  rank  above 
mere  translators.  .  .  .  We  felicitate  the  reading  public  upon  having  gained  a  new 
version  of  him  by  a  ripe  scholar  and  a  poet  of  a  curiously  congenial  taste  for 
scenery  and  word  painting." — SATURDAY  REVIEW. 

"As  good  a  thing  in  translation  as  we  have  seen  for  a  long  time."— 
SPECTATOR. 


z 

LU 

s 


§1 


UCN 


t 


CO 
oei- 


CO 

0 

CN 

uo 

LU 

O    ™J 

i«" 

LU     5 

Z? 

§ 

^ 

6, 

LU  ' 


LU   Q, 
CQ.Q 


J 

^  O 


